Lithonia mayor ousted but unbowed

Voters in the tiny south DeKalb County city of Lithonia have ousted Mayor Joyce McKibben from office.

McKibben lost Tuesday night’s recall election 171-49, according to a tally at the precinct. The results are unofficial until election officials certify results in the next two days.

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Joyce McKibben vows to run again to regain the office of mayor of Lithonia.

Lithonia politics:

• Lithonia mayor overstepped authority, judge rules
• Talks between Lithonia officials and mayor fail
• Lithonia tries to straightening out mess in City Hall
• Lithonia's troubles are hurting business, say critics
• Another Lithonia setback: judge quits suddenly
• Lithonia infighting has a history, but town's the loser
• Photos

McKibben was undeterred Tuesday night, questioning the accuracy of the total and vowing to qualify to run in a Nov. 18 special election to pick a new mayor. Mayor pro tem Tonya Peterson will act as mayor until then.

“Please, there is no way that [count] is right,” said McKibben, who worked throughout the day to get supporters to the polls. “It’s all good, though. We are going to let justice prevail. I will be involved.”

McKibben’s ouster comes after months of conflict between the mayor and the city council. She had held the mayor’s office nine months in the city of 2,300, winning last November in a four-way race with just 76 votes.

McKibben said opponents targeted her because she had uncovered financial irregularities in the city. Outside audits released in March did show abuse of city credit cards and lack of financial controls dating back to 2005.

But critics said she was unfit, especially after McKibben fired the police chief on April 7, only to see the council reinstate him unanimously hours later.

The mayor scuffled with police after the meeting, when she was prevented from removing her city-issued computer from City Hall.

“People were tired of what was going on, and nothing good being done for this city,” said Ric Dodd, who organized the recall effort. “The mayor has been totally useless for this city.”

With the special election, Dodd said he and business leaders will not seek out a preferred candidate. Instead, they will invite all candidates — McKibben included — to debates where residents can ask specific questions of their potential leaders.

In the meantime, several other issues have yet to be resolved. McKibben’s struggle with the council went to Superior Court, where Judge Linda Warren Hunter ruled that McKibben had overstepped her authority when she fired Chief Willie J. Rosser.

The case is still before the court, which is weighing counterclaims that McKibben has intentionally stalled city business.

There have been delays in routine matters, such as issuing business licenses and signing employee checks, since that incident.

Some of those delays will be addressed tonight in a council work session at the city police station. The council meets for regular business next Monday.