DeKalb Ethics Board takes up case against Commissioner Johnson
The DeKalb County Board of Ethics plans to consider a complaint Thursday alleging that Commissioner Larry Johnson misused his county charge card for personal benefit.
During the preliminary hearing, the board could decide whether there's enough evidence against Johnson to move forward with the case.
An ethics complaint filed in May by DeKalb resident Rhea Johnson highlights several taxpayer-funded purchases by the commissioner. They include $10,000 worth of contributions to the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center as well as much smaller expenses for meals and Apple products.
Commissioner Johnson has said he donated money from his office budget to aid the Porter Sanford Center as it suffered from budget cuts during the recession.
He has said he spent the money for a legitimate purpose that was in the best interest of DeKalb citizens.
The Board of Ethics has the power to reprimand, suspend or remove officials who are found to have violated ethical rules.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
