East Point mayor cleared of allegation he lied on a document qualifying to run

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A hearing officer Friday rejected an allegation that East Point Mayor Joe Macon lied on a form he signed under oath when he qualified to run for re-election.

Macon's name will remain on the Nov. 3 ballot along with three challengers.

An hour-long hearing was held to resolve a complaint East Point resident Isabel Jeffares filed with the city’s elections office. Jeffares claimed Macon lied when he affirmed he was not in default on any taxes.

The state has placed a lien against Macon to recoup about $2,300 in taxes plus fines and interest. Macon said he "underpaid" his taxes 2003-2006 and only recently learned he owed the state money.

“I don’t understand it,” Macon said about complaints Jeffares and others have voiced. “None of the challenges here have to do with … my leadership. All these attacks have to be personal.”

Jeffares and another East Point resident, Katy Blevins, have collected hundreds of copies of records concerning Macon’s use of his city-issued credit card, expenses for his office and a book club he created to encourage fifth- and sixth-grade boys to read. It was during their research that they found the tax lien.

Both women worked for Macon’s 2005 campaign but they oppose his re-election.

They also have said Macon uses his city credit card to buy expensive meals with people who have nothing to offer the city. And they questioned his Mayor’s Book Club project, which uses private donations passed through East Point’s general fund.

“I haven’t done anything,” Macon said.

Jeffares said her motives were not based on any “grudge toward the mayor or because I believe that he defaulted on some of the sort of quid pro quo arrangement with me at some point.”

She said her concern is ethics in government.