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Ex-DeKalb Commissioner Sutton sues Board of Ethics again

Former DeKalb Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton arrived at the county courthouse Feb. 21 for a hearing on the constitutionality of the DeKalb Board of Ethics. HYOSUB SHIN / HYOSUB.SHIN@AJC.COM
Former DeKalb Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton arrived at the county courthouse Feb. 21 for a hearing on the constitutionality of the DeKalb Board of Ethics. HYOSUB SHIN / HYOSUB.SHIN@AJC.COM
By Mark Niesse
March 21, 2017

Former DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton filed another lawsuit Tuesday against the DeKalb Board of Ethics, saying it should be dissolved.

Sutton's lawsuit accuses DeKalb Ethics Officer Stacey Kalberman of improperly advocating for legislation to change the appointment process of Board of Ethics members.

This is Sharon Barnes Sutton's second legal challenge to the board that is investigating her.

Rep. Vernon Jones, D-Lithonia, made similar allegations against Kalberman in an ethics complaint filed last week.

Sutton originally sued the Board of Ethics in November 2015 as she faced ethics charges alleging she misspent public money.

A judge hasn't yet ruled on the first lawsuit, which argues that Board of Ethics members shouldn't be appointed by private organizations.

Kalberman and the board’s attorney, Darren Summerville, declined to comment Tuesday.

Former DeKalb County commissioner Sharon Barnes-Sutton is accused of using $1,000 for makeup and photographs days before leaving office.

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.

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