R. J. Kurey

RJ Kurey is a former political figure, who was removed from his city council post in Alpharetta, Georgia. A year-long tug of war between Kurey and his fellow council members – frustrated with Kurey’s alleged abusive and potentially illegal behavior – ended with the council's vote to remove him from office. Kurey stood accused of abusing his power, making terroristic threats and sexually harassing council members, city staff and Alpharetta’s citizens. This is only the second time in Georgia history that an elected municipal official had been removed from office by his peers.

* January 10, 2005 - Councilman R. J. Kurey adds words to the city charter when reading from it into the record of an Alpharetta City Council meeting. When another councilman asks for a copy of the charter Kurey was reading from later in the day, Kurey replied "Kiss my [deleted] , you pompous SOB!

*January 24, 2005 – Councilman R. J. Kurey was censured by the Alpharetta City Council.

*February 24, 2005 - Human Resources Director Shannon Forester filed a formal complaint against Mr. Kurey alleging violation of the City’s workplace conduct policy, resulting in a formal and independent investigation by attorney Patricia Griffith.

*March 21, 2005 - Ms. Griffith made her written report (the “Griffith Report”) and public presentation to the City Council. His removal from office was recommended.

* March 23, 2005 - The Alpharetta City Council votes 6-1 to begin proceedings to strip Councilman R. J. Kurey from his post. A report from an independent investigator indicated that Kurey had harassed and intimidated city employees and posed a legal liability to the city of Alpharetta (Fulton County).

*March 28, 2005 - Alpharetta Councilman R.J Kurey says he has hired former Congressman Bob Barr to represent him.

* May 6, 2005 - Superior Court Judge Gail Tusan refused to stop Alpharetta's investigation into City Councilman R.J. Kurey. The councilman is accused of trying to fake a city law, misleading the public and verbally abusing employees.

* August 1, 2005 - Alpharetta Councilman R.J. Kurey offers to resign from the city council if he is given $100,000.

* August 1, 2005 – Special Prosecutor David Monde of Jones Day Law Firm presented its recommendation, supported by information presented at the meeting, that grounds exist to remove Council member Kurey from office based on a “pervasive pattern of misconduct” by Mr. Kurey. Council voted 6-1, with Mr. Kurey opposed, to hold an investigative hearing to hear information and evidence from Jones Day and lawyers for Mr. Kurey as to whether Mr. Kurey should be removed from office pursuant to Section 5.18 of the City Charter.

* August 3, 2005 – Special Prosecutor David Monde of Jones Day Law Firm submitted a Supplement to Its Notice of Grounds for Removal, based on sworn evidence of another instance of threatening behavior by Mr. Kurey towards a city employee -- occurring after submission of the Notice of Grounds for removal - - that draws into question whether the protective measures set forth in the March 21st Executive Order and March 23, 2005 Council Resolution are sufficient to protect the City, employees and Council members from ongoing misconduct by Mr. Kurey pending completion of the proceedings regarding Mr. Kurey’s possible removal from office.

* August 8, 2005 - Alpharetta City Council votes to limit R. J. Kurey's communication as a council member to statements that have been factually checked by the city attorney.

* August 18, 2005 - Alpharetta City Council votes to remove R. J. Kurey from his seat on the council following dramatic evidence that Kurey repeatedly broke city laws and threatened city employees and residents. Kurey’s seat remained empty throughout the meeting. Earlier, he’d called the proceeding illegal.

* September 9, 2005 - Alpharetta City Councilman R.J. Kurey filed an appeal at the Fulton County Clerks office. Kurey claimed that the appeal would mean he would be immediately reinstated as an Alpharetta City Councilman and he said he intended to attend the next council meeting. A special prosecutor, David Monde, said that some of Kurey’s alleged actions might be considered illegal or criminal under the scrutiny of a judge.

* October 27, 2005 - Councilman R.J. Kurey has sued his fellow council members, his city, and now he is taking his own attorney to court in an effort to keep him on the case.
* November 17, 2005 - Fulton Superior Court Judge Gail S. Tusan ruled Monday, Nov. 7, that the attorneys could withdraw from representing the councilman in this case and another lawsuit. After being released from representing Kurey, Marger said he was relieved. He offered one reason why he and Barr sought to step aside. "He owes us $18,000," Marger said.

* December 1, 2005 - R.J. Kurey has been removed from Alpharetta City Council.

* September 2006 – Kurey was sighted at the World Series of Poker Lake Tahoe where he placed a modest 9th with winnings listed of $1979.

* November 30, 2007 - Former Alpharetta Councilman R.J. Kurey now appears to have more serious problems with police in California. According to police in Los Angeles County, Calif., Kurey is a suspect in what one detective called "a large-dollar check fraud." Police did not want to talk about details of the case until they had Kurey in custody.

Kurey's name came to the attention of Milton police when LA County detectives sent a request to check out Kurey's last known address, apparently that of a Milton apartment less than a mile from police headquarters. Officers were trying to find Kurey so that they could file for extradition so they contacted police here.

However, Fontana police did not say there was a warrant for his arrest.

Kurey had recently renewed his Georgia driver's license with that address, although acquaintances had reported seeing Kurey in Las Vegas and was reportedly living there now.