DeKalb CEO race features well-known leaders Thurmond and Stokes
An open race for DeKalb County CEO has brought competition from two experienced politicians: former DeKalb schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond and former DeKalb Commissioner Connie Stokes.
The winner will take leadership of a county at a crossroads after years of bad publicity and allegations of misbehavior. DeKalb has the only county government CEO position in the state, responsible for managing more than 6,000 employees and a $1.3 billion annual budget.
They’ll face off in the May 24 Democratic primary election. Also running is frequent candidate Joe Bembry. The winner will meet Republican Jack Lovelace in the Nov. 8 general election.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
