Remember Mike McGowan? He’s the smug school system spokesman I’d never heard of until the last Cherokee County school board election, when he put himself on my radar with a very rude phone call.

His opponents and detractors had long known of his DUI history, which goes beyond Cherokee County. Some of these folks called use of that information “the nuclear option,” reserving it as a last resort.

The “nuclear option” seems to be off the table now. I can only wish I had been the one to make the 911 call.

Will this raise questions as to how much the Cherokee County School Board (his employer) really knew about his record, and its clear reflection on his character? I think so.

Will someone speak up and question whether multiple DUI convictions cast into doubt his fitness to act as a school system’s representative to the press and the community? I’d like to think so.

Will it be revealed that superintendent Petruzielo knew, and failed to act on the information? I hope so.

Will someone ask the big, big question? That would be, “How was someone with two DUI convictions still driving, and how does his friendship with Sheriff Roger Garrison figure into that equation?” I fear not. We’ll see!

January 7, 2011
Cherokee School Spokesman Arrested For DUI
By Jennifer Griffies (WSB Radio)

The spokesman for the Cherokee County School System is on leave following his arrest on DUI.

Forty-year-old Mike McGowan was pulled over just before midnight on December 17 after there were several calls that a truck was driving on the wrong side of the road and nearly hit a car near Reinhardt College Parkway.

Sheriff Roger Garrison tells WSB he is extremely disappointed that McGowan tried to use their friendship to get out of a ticket.

“I’m very disappointed of his behavior and involving my name and attempting to use our friendship to leverage his bad position,” said Garrison.

Friday, Cherokee Schools Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo said that McGowan “requested a leave of absence without pay” in a meeting. Petruzielo said that school board members may discuss the personnel matter in an executive session during their next meeting January 20.

The December DUI was McGowan’s third in Cherokee County. He was also arrested in 1998 and again in 2003.

McGowan, who was wearing a pair of the sheriff’s pants, told the deputy he was leaving Garrison’s home on the night he was stopped.

“Two days prior to the arrest, when the snow or ice storm hit Cherokee County, he was stranded at work, couldn’t get home, and spent the night at my house then. The next day I gave him a fresh pair of pants to wear. I assume he was going to work. I hadn’t seen him in two days, so he absolutely was not at my house the night of the arrest,” said Garrison.

McGowan, who could not be reached by WSB Radio, told the AJC that there was a misunderstanding with the deputy, that he told him he had been at the sheriff’s house the other evening.

“I have seen the videotape and the audio tape and have read the officer’s reports. In my opinion, it’s clear that’s what he was attempting to do and obviously I’m very disappointed in that,” said Garrison.

While he is upset with the situation, Garrison says he commends the officer who made the arrest. “He was not deterred by any comments of knowing me or anything that occurred that night. He performed his duties very professionally and affected the arrest,” said Garrison.

He was asked if he and McGowan are still friends.

“Well, it’s a very trying time, I’ll say that at this point,” said Garrison.

McGowan is scheduled to meet with school officials Friday afternoon at 2:45 to determine if he will be able to keep his job.