Five candidates will compete to replace former DeKalb County Commissioner Elaine Boyer, who recently resigned and pleaded guilty to fraud charges.
Qualifying for the race ended Wednesday, setting up a two-month campaign before the Nov. 4 election. The winner of the race will represent about 140,000 people in north DeKalb, including the cities of Brookhaven, Doraville, Dunwoody and Chamblee.
The candidates are Wendy Butler, a land use attorney; Larry Danese, a retired electrical and nuclear engineer; Nancy Jester, an actuarial consultant; Tom Owens, a Vietnam veteran; and Holmes Pyles, a retired state government employee. All candidates are Republicans except for Pyles, who is independent.
They said they’ll clean up a county government plagued by accusations that commissioners have spent taxpayer money for personal items. Boyer admitted to misusing her government purchasing card and to funnelling government money to herself in a scheme worth more than $90,000.
If necessary, a runoff would be held Dec. 2.
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