DeKalb Ethics Board gets final member amid investigations

DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May replaced an inactive member of the Board of Ethics on Friday, days before the board considers several complaints against county commissioners and employees.

May appointed Robert Blackman, a Vietnam War veteran and a member of the county Code Enforcement Advisory Committee, to replace board member Isaac Blythers.

Blackman’s appointment fills out the seven-member board, which would need five votes to reprimand, suspend or remove an official from office.

Ethics cases are pending against Commissioners Elaine Boyer, Larry Johnson and Sharon Barnes Sutton based on complaints that they used their county purchasing cards to buy personal items.

The Ethics Board plans to meet Tuesday to review the progress of investigations into Boyer, suspended CEO Burrell Ellis, suspended Purchasing Director Kelvin Walton and former county secretary Nina Hall.

Blackman will serve a seven-year term, and John Ernst will remain the board’s chairman.

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