Brantley County resident Tanya Tomanek is set to appear in court on criminal trespass charges, stemming from her arrest at a county commission meeting this summer. Tomanek was handcuffed and spent three nights in jail after delivering a plea for transparency and accountability regarding data centers at the July 7 meeting. She contends the accusations are politically motivated and designed to silence her and her coalition of residents.
The arrest occurred during the public comment portion of the Brantley County Commission meeting. According to the sheriff’s deputy’s incident report, Tomanek was using threatening language and refused to comply with demands to sit down after her allotted five minutes. Brantley County Manager Joey Cason confirmed Tomanek was "ejected from the meeting because she broke the rules" that were posted before the session. Cason stated that Chairman Skipper Harris asked her to sit down, to which she refused. The officer then asked her to leave, and she responded that he would have to take her out in handcuffs, after which the officer did so.
Tomanek, 53, concedes she used an expletive while her emotions ran high at the podium but denies making any threats. A video of her speech at the July 7 meeting shows her discussing her philosophy of government with commissioners, stating that elected officials are employees of the voters. As her emotions intensified, she used an expletive, saying, "Our county’s going fucking bankrupt," referring to her concerns that commissioners might change the rural character of Brantley County with large-scale economic development, such as data centers, solar farms, or a new landfill. Her arrest report indicates that about two minutes into her speech, her tone became "noticeably more aggressive specifically towards Board Chairman Skipper Harris" and she "began verbally berating and cursing loudly for everyone in the room to hear." A commissioner then signaled for a sheriff’s deputy to remove her, according to her arrest report.
After her arrest, Tomanek was held in the county lockup. She was processed and released on a $1,000 cash-only bail on a Friday, after waiting since her Tuesday arrest. Tomanek views these decisions as retaliation for what she describes as a mission to speak truth to power.
Tomanek's journey into political activism began recently, despite having lived in Camden and Brantley counties for close to two decades, including three years on her 13-acre property in Brantley County. Previously focused on family and business, she became concerned about data centers after attending a local discussion group at Waynesville Baptist Church in January of 2026. This technology’s potential impact on the economy and her grandchildren’s lives spurred her to research the issue and speak with neighbors.
In collaboration with her partner, Matt McGrath, Tomanek sought to raise awareness by installing a digital billboard on GA 82. In February, she formed the coalition Citizens United for Brantley County’s Future. Their first formal meeting, held at Waynesville Primary School, drew approximately 150 attendees. A subsequent meeting in Nahunta attracted nearly 100 Brantley County residents, described by Tomanek as "blue collar people," who voiced various grievances against county commissioners, including concerns about data centers. Earlier that month, a man attending a monthly Brantley County Committee meeting was escorted out by police after speaking against a proposed zoning change to allow a data center, though he was not charged. County commissioners have denied they were considering a data center in Brantley.
Tomanek believes heavy-handed tactics against voters like her will likely result in backlash against the political establishment at the ballot box. Her activism reflects a broader trend of voters in traditionally Republican rural counties becoming more civically engaged due to anxiety about affordability and the potential end of their way of life, coupled with a perception that elected officials are not listening. Tomanek's quest for justice has faced delays, as her assigned public defender recused himself from her case, citing a conflict of interest due to private practice work for the county. Her court appearance was scheduled for Oct. 28, following an earlier hearing scheduled for Sept. 23.
