Former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones took the expected step Thursday of announcing he will run to become the county’s new sheriff.
Jones, who has never served in law enforcement, joins a field of at least five candidates that have made their intentions to run known.
In front of 30 supporters Thursday, Jones cited his eight years in the state House and two terms in the top elected job in DeKalb as qualifying him to handle the mostly administrative role of sheriff.
“At this time, DeKalb County needs some serious leadership,” Jones said. “As an administrator, I know how to manage resources. I know how to run an operation. My background and my experience is second to none.”
Voters will choose the new sheriff in May to fill the last two years of Thomas Brown’s term. Brown has served as sheriff since 2001 but is stepping down Feb. 28 to challenge U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia.
Jones’ candidacy for sheriff comes less than a year after a special grand jury investigating allegations of corruption in DeKalb singled out Jones in their probe.
The report describes a culture of corruption that dates back to Jones’ terms, with insiders trying to enrich themselves and cronies at the expense of DeKalb taxpayers.
Specifically, the report recommends a criminal investigation into how Jones managed contracting, saying he may have used his office as the top elected official in DeKalb to rig bids on county projects.
Jones has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney, Dwight Thomas, has noted that despite the report, prosecutors have sought charges only against Burrell Ellis, Jones’ successor.
Ellis was suspended following his indictment on political corruption charges last year and is awaiting trial.
Jones referred to the challenges facing DeKalb in his announcement but said he wanted to focus on the future, not past struggles.
“The reason why the windshield is bigger than a rear view mirror is because it’s where you‘re going that counts, not where you came from,” he said.
All of the other candidates Jones will face in his bid to return to county politics are current or former law enforcement officers. So far, those signaling that they will run for sheriff when Brown steps down are:
- Retired DeKalb sheriff's deputy Dale Bernard Collins.
- DeKalb Police Sgt. Romaldo Tony Hughes.
- Former Georgia Piedmont Technical College Assistant Chief Melody Maddox.
- DeKalb Sheriff's Deputy Chief Jeffrey Mann.
- Atlanta Police Sgt. Melvin Mitchell.
Mann, a former assistant county attorney, will serve as interim sheriff between Brown’s resignation and the special election to be held May 20, when voters also head to the polls for the state Democratic and Republican primaries.
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