If DeKalb County voters treat the upcoming July 15 primary as a job interview rather than a political contest, they will elect Burrell Ellis their next CEO.

With the day-to-day responsibilities for ensuring that the 740,000-person county operates efficiently and effectively, the powerful CEO position demands sharp management acumen as well as political skills. It requires an ability to work well with others, a talent that Ellis has demonstrated in his nearly eight years as a DeKalb commissioner representing Avondale Estates, Clarkston, Pine Lake and Stone Mountain. His strengths as a leader and collaborator led his fellow commissioners to name him their presiding officer for five consecutive terms.

Because all five of the candidates seeking to replace CEO Vernon Jones are Democrats, the July 15 primary will determine the winner of the post. (Jones is now running for U.S. Senate.)

A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Texas law school, Ellis is an attorney specializing in land acquisition, land use and zoning. He has also taught law school classes in negotiation and collaborative problem solving. On the commission, Ellis developed a niche as a smart-growth advocate and serves on the National Community Development Council of the Urban Land Institute. He's gained a national perspective on municipal government through his involvement with the National Association of Counties.

Ellis is that rare politician who thinks before he speaks; he seldom utters an unreasoned comment, probably owing to his legal background. At commission meetings, Ellis is often the voice of logic and compromise.

But he has held his own in skirmishes with the more volatile Jones. At candidate forums, he's shown the greatest understanding of the challenges of DeKalb and the clearest vision on how to overcome those challenges.

Ellis' legislative record speaks to issues that directly affect the quality of life in DeKalb. In 2002, Ellis won passage of an ordinance banning smoking in restaurants and office buildings, making DeKalb the first metro Atlanta government to recognize and address the dangers of secondhand smoke. More recently, Ellis authored an ordinance to bring landfills into compliance with environmental regulations. He's also pushed to hold county departments accountable for budget overruns and sloppy contract awarding.

Ellis believes in and argues for greater transparency in government, which is vital in a county with a $1.7 billion budget. Money will be tighter next year in DeKalb as a result of the national economic doldrums and the likelihood that Dunwoody will vote to break away and become a city. DeKalb voters cannot afford to elect a politician; they need a brilliant manager, an able negotiator and an expert in local governance. Ellis offers them all of that.

— Maureen Downey, for the editorial board (mdowney@ajc.com)