DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis didn’t show up for work at his county offices Wednesday morning to attend a meeting called by his chief of staff for all of the employees who work directly for the CEO.
The question wafting in DeKalb is how long he can hold onto that job after Tuesday’s indictment of him on 15 counts that include extortion, theft and conspiracy. Fourteen of the counts are felonies.
The answer will likely come from Gov. Nathan Deal, who must decide if Ellis is more like Tyrone Brooks or Victor Hill.
Earlier this month, Deal appointed the Legislature’s two top Democrats and Republican Attorney General Sam Olens to review whether the 30 counts of fraud Brooks faces make him unfit to continuing serving in the state House.
But in April, Deal sidestepped setting up a similar panel to review suspending Hill from office, saying voters chose him as Clayton County Sheriff aware of the 32 felony counts against him.
In those cases, as with Ellis, the panel’s recommendations would go to Deal, who could have the final say on suspending the elected official from office.
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