Georgia’s top leaders indicated Monday that they could wade into the thorny battle over the future of DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May, a week after the blockbuster report on corruption urged the embattled politician to resign.
Gov. Nathan Deal and Attorney General Sam Olens said they were open to launching a state investigation into May if the Georgia Bureau of Investigation recommends it.
May, meanwhile, scheduled a series of community meetings to try to counter the report that found "widespread misconduct" in DeKalb government and accused him of taking an improper loan from a subordinate. His office declined to provide further comments Monday.
The governor said Monday he was concerned by the report, issued by investigators that Lee hired, and said he would work with Olens to decide whether to launch a state investigation. And Olens said through a spokesman he would “discuss any necessary further steps” with Deal’s office.
“We’ll see as it continues to unfold exactly what the nature of these problems are, and whether or not they overlap into criminal conduct,” Deal said.
Both were sharper statements than either politician had previously made. Deal’s office said last week that it would ask the GBI to review the investigative report, but added nothing more. And Olens initially said the DeKalb imbroglio was out of his jurisdiction.
Deal intervened in DeKalb before
It’s no surprise, though, that Deal would be wary of intervening in DeKalb politics once again.
The governor faced fervent opposition when he removed two-thirds of the county's school board in 2013 as the board descended deeper into dysfunction. And he appointed May to lead the county commission the same year, after then-CEO Burrell Ellis was indicted on charges that he illegally pressured contractors into giving him campaign contributions.
If Deal decides to intervene, he could have several options. He could ask the Attorney General’s office or another agency, such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to conduct a separate probe. He also could try to remove May from office himself, though it’s unclear whether he has the power to do so.
“There’s not an official investigation launched by the state, and that would probably be something in the hands of the Attorney General working with us in that regard,” said Deal. “We don’t know if it’s going to lead to that at this point.”
State law gives Deal the power to remove elected officials who face felony charges after a panel reviews their case. May doesn’t face any criminal charges, but his situation is murkier since Deal appointed him to the post on an interim basis two years ago. May keeps his interim title until Ellis, convicted of attempted extortion and perjury over the summer, exhausts his appeals or resigns.
Counteroffensive from May
May is facing mounting opposition from DeKalb residents in the wake of the investigation.
LaVista Hills Alliance and DeKalb Strong — two forces on opposing sides of the debate over whether to create a city of LaVista Hills — both united over the weekend with calls for May to quit.
“There is no doubt those who run DeKalb County — stating at the top with Interim CEO Lee May — have a blatant disregard for other people’s money,” said Mary Kay Woodworth, chairwoman of LaVista Hills Alliance. “This report confirms why our citizens have had enough and want local control with a new city.”
And DeKalb Strong’s online petition advocating for a “fresh start with new leadership” had attracted more than 250 signatures through Monday afternoon.
Some local activists, meanwhile, are trying to draft Michael Thurmond, the former state Labor commissioner and DeKalb superintendent, to take over as the county's emergency leader.
May is readying a counteroffensive. He called the 40-page report was "salacious" and "wasteful," and he said he doesn't intend to step down. And this week he will take his case directly to residents with a series of face-to-face community meetings starting this Thursday in Decatur.
Called “Up Close and Personal” meetings, they are billed as a chance for May to explain the county’s budget, government operations and “other topics of community concern.”
Timetable uncertain
His fate may be in limbo for a while.
GBI spokesman Scott Dutton said the agency’s review would probe the report from a “law enforcement perspective” to delve into what criminal elements, if any, stand out.
The specific allegation concerning May that was highlighted in the report was that he had borrowed money from a former top aide, Morris Williams, in violation of DeKalb’s Code of Ethics, which prohibits financial arrangements between elected officials and staff.
May initially denied the allegation after learning of it last week, but investigators produced a transcript of an interview with May in which he acknowledged borrowing "a couple hundred dollars" over his eight-year relationship with Williams, whom May also described as a friend.
The GBI’s Dutton said there’s no timetable for the agency’s review, but by late Monday agents still hadn’t started.
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