Blake Elsberry, a candidate for Georgia State Senate District 53 and former Chattooga County Sole Commissioner, has released a public response addressing questions surrounding his past involvement with Zentell Communications.

Elsberry says that after leaving office, he worked briefly for the company in a sales role, believing the position would involve helping expand internet service to rural areas of Georgia. He says he and several other employees were brought on at the same time, but after repeated requests for employee contracts, they were informed in February that the company could not afford to pay them and were let go. Elsberry says the company never paid him for that month’s work.

According to Elsberry, he considered legal action over unpaid wages but decided against it due to the lack of a formal employment contract and the potential legal costs outweighing the amount owed. He says he relied on personal savings and liquidated his 401(k) to support his family until securing new employment.

Addressing the county’s dealings with Zentell Communications, Elsberry said the contract was handled through the county attorney and was bid out in accordance with state law. He said the county’s decision to pursue legal action over contractual issues was appropriate and consistent with his administration’s practice of bidding projects and formalizing contracts to protect both the county and vendors.

Elsberry also addressed the investigation into contracts executed during his time in office, calling it “vindictive political theater,” but said he fully cooperated with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, including providing access to his financial accounts. He stated that the investigation has since been closed and that he has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Elsberry says he is now considering potential defamation lawsuits.