More than 140,000 residents in southeast DeKalb County will finally get full representation in their government now that Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May has resigned the commission seat he was elected to, clearing the way for an election.
May announced he was stepping down today, and a special election to replace him will be held June 16. May will retain his role as the county’s chief executive.
Southeast DeKalb District 5 has lacked a commissioner for almost two years since Gov. Nathan Deal appointed May to lead the county while corruption charges are pending against suspended CEO Burrell Ellis.
Surrounded by residents wearing bright green "D5 Matters" T-shirts, May blamed a faction of the county commission's "petty personal politics" for blocking previous nominees for the post, forcing him to take action and break the impasse.
“The people have stated their frustration with not having a voting member on the board,” May said during his announcement at the Lou Walker Senior Center near Lithonia. “The citizens of District 5 deserve certainty.”
May had previously resisted calls from his political opponents to resign his county commission seat, allowing for the special election. He said he changed his mind after hearing from residents.
The remaining members of the DeKalb Commission were supposed to decide on an temporary southeast DeKalb commissioner, but they repeatedly deadlocked on five finalists. Whoever takes the seat could become an instant swing vote between two factions on the seven-member board.
May became the county’s CEO in the wake of corruption charges against suspended CEO Burrell Ellis, who faces a retrial June 1.
If a jury finds Ellis guilty of shaking down county contractors for campaign contributions, May would remain CEO until Ellis’ appeals are resolved or until after 2016 election, whichever comes first.
If a jury acquits Ellis, he could retake leadership of the county, and May would be out of office.
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