Since late Thursday morning, City of Thomasville officials have been poring through the city’s charter to see what — if anything — needs to be done in the wake of Mayor Greg Hobbs facing an indictment on a half-dozen charges.

Mayor Hobbs faces three charges of violation of oath by a public officer, two counts of making a false statement and one count of false report of a crime, all stemming from his belief and statement that his name was forged on a payroll document.

There does not appear to be anything in the city’s code mandating the mayor step away from his duties while under the cloud of an indictment.

But in the world of politics and government, appearances matter. In this case, perhaps the most prudent step Mayor Hobbs can take is to recuse himself from his office as mayor — and as chairman of the Thomasville Payroll Development Authority — while the case makes it through the judicial system.

An indictment is by no means a statement of guilt or innocence. All it means is there is enough credible evidence to proceed with charges. The onus of proving the charges remains on the state.

Mayor Hobbs may be defiant and decide to stand his ground as mayor. That would not be a judicious move.

The City of Thomasville’s day-to-day operations are in capable and adept hands. New City Manager Alan Carson has a wealth of knowledge and experience and has been well-received by his subordinates, superiors and counterparts. He has the luxury of a city staff that is well-honed in its daily tasks.

There is also a civil suit against the mayor and the city that ties into the reasons for his indictment.

At the heart of the indictment’s charges and the lawsuit Hobbs faces are two employees whose ability to do their jobs has been above reproach. 

It was McDonald, then acting as interim city manager, who, according to the lawsuit filed on her and Bryson’s behalf, discovered city council members had been underpaid for their attendance at meetings. The city went to rectify the back pay issue, but Hobbs, according to McDonald and Bryson’s lawsuit, said he was owed more than the amount of back pay formulated. 

The mayor, according to the suit, had to sign a payroll document at Bryson’s desk, as did the rest of the council. But when his check came in, he objected, and accused McDonald and Bryson of forging his signature, their lawsuit contends. He then reported to the GBI and the district attorney’s office that McDonald and Bryson used a stamp of his signature without his authorization.

The indictments alone should warrant the mayor stepping aside from his role leading the city and the PDA as well. This could be for a while — there likely are a series of hearings and court dates ahead in this case alone, along with that of the civil proceedings. There will be an opportunity for Hobbs to declare his innocence and to see if the charges against him are credible and accurate. 

In the meantime, it would be best for him and the city if he let his mayor’s gavel and role of PDA chairman pass to another until the case is resolved.