Well-paid DeKalb tax job makes for contentious race

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson and attorney Susannah Scott participated in a candidate forum for the tax commissioner’s position at New Life Church on Monday. The third candidate in the race, former DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson, didn’t attend the forum. MARK NIESSE / MARK.NIESSE@AJC.COM.

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson and attorney Susannah Scott participated in a candidate forum for the tax commissioner’s position at New Life Church on Monday. The third candidate in the race, former DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson, didn’t attend the forum. MARK NIESSE / MARK.NIESSE@AJC.COM.

Three candidates with powerful backgrounds are running for DeKalb tax commissioner, the highest-paid government job in the county with total annual compensation of $242,000.

One of the candidates is former Commissioner Stan Watson, who owes roughly $150,000 after losing a lawsuit and was reprimanded for an ethics violation.

Another candidate is current Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson, who sued this week to try to delay the special election, arguing that the ballot should identify him as the incumbent. Johnson's name currently appears without the word "incumbent" beneath it.

The third candidate is attorney Susannah Scott, the daughter of former DeKalb Tax Commissioner Tom Scott and former DeKalb Commissioner Jacqueline Scott.

Voters will decide among the candidates Tuesday.