For top elections job, Fulton picked unvetted insider
Fulton County has found itself once again in the dog house when it comes to its elections office. The former elections director left in disgrace Monday, submitting his resignation from the Alpharetta jail while serving time for violating probation.
But the county might have avoided this latest fix had anyone vetted Samuel Westmoreland’s resume or scrutinized records on his two DUI arrests. Instead, it hired an insider with no experience directing an elections office.
Election board officials say they didn’t know that Westmoreland was still on probation when they hired him. Neither they nor the county personnel office looked into claims about the work he did for several area law firms. Nor did his short stints at several firms raise eyebrows.
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution examination found serious flaws in the election board’s selection process. Subscribers can read our full report in Sunday’s AJC.
About the Author
Johnny Edwards, a member of the AJC’s investigative team, covers state and local government and private sector regulation.
