During her eight years in office, DeKalb Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton has fought for money and power for her district, which she says has made her political enemies on a divided board.
Her opponent, Steve Bradshaw, has never been elected, but he knows one thing: The infighting and factionalism must stop if DeKalb is going to get past its problems.
The two will face off in a battle for the heart of the DeKalb during a runoff Tuesday. The winner will represent a district of about 150,000 people in the Stone Mountain area, taking a seat on a Board of Commissioners often at odds over how best to spend government money.
The race grew more contentious this week when Sutton sent out a campaign flier comparing Bradshaw to a house slave from the movie “Django Unchained,” saying he would sell out the district to northside DeKalb interests.
Bradshaw said called such campaigning desperate and dirty.
“It’s offensive,” Bradshaw said, who came within 2 percentage points of winning the election outright in May. “I’m independent. What’s going to drive my decision-making is always what’s in the best interest of District 4. I won’t belong to any faction, any group on the commission. Hopefully, by my example, we can get rid of some of this factionalism on the commission and move DeKalb forward.”
Sutton defended the flier, saying she’s working against those who would prevent economic progress in her district.
“Why am I labeled as divisive when I stand up for the people?” Sutton said. “I don’t have to get along with people who are working against the people who put me in office. … We do need some special attention in areas that have been underserved.”
Bradshaw said he represents a change from Sutton’s us-versus-them mentality, and he said he’ll work together with the other six commissioners on the board.
“I’m going to work to make sure I have good relationships with all my colleagues on the Board of Commissioners — every single one of them, whether they’re from north DeKalb or south DeKalb,” Bradshaw said at a July 14 debate hosted by the group Pride Rings In Stone Mountain (PRISM).
Sutton responded that she’s done what’s needed to secure funding for a new library, park improvements and a senior center at Tobie Grant Park.
“You can’t run against me on my record. It has to be about something else,” Sutton said at a debate Tuesday hosted by the Mainstreet Homeowners Association. “It has to be about made-up stuff. It can’t be about my record because you know my record shows that I will work for you.”
About that “something else”:
Sutton faces a dozen ethics complaints, allegations that haven't been adjudicated because she sued the DeKalb Board of Ethics, saying it's operating unconstitutionally with members appointed by non-governmental organizations. A judge in November ordered the board not to take up Sutton's case while the lawsuit is pending.
The ethics complaints allege Sutton she paid her boyfriend $34,000 for consulting services, invoiced $10,905 for a personal attorney and paid $1,100 for a portrait of President Barack Obama at a charity auction. She also allegedly received free YMCA memberships, used county employees at a political fundraising event and bought home office equipment with her county charge card.
Sutton has said all her spending and actions were appropriate. Authorities haven’t charged her with a crime.
“The allegations made were by political opponents who ran against me and who told me, if you don’t step and fetch, we’re going to get you,” Sutton said at the PRISM debate. “It’s all conspiracy. It’s all collusion.”
Bradshaw said that, if he’s elected, he would emphasize integrity and transparency, eliminating any questions about questionable behavior.
“I’ll stay out of the news,” Bradshaw said at the debate. “If you’re just going about the business of government, taking care of citizens and doing what you’re supposed to do, it’s kind of boring.”
On the issues, Sutton, a former public school teacher, said she would continue seeking resources for her community, which she believes hasn’t been treated the same as the northern half of DeKalb.
Bradshaw, a U.S. Army veteran and business development manager, said he would clean up the county, emphasize public safety and put an end to corruption among county officials.
No incumbent commissioner has lost re-election in DeKalb since 1992, when Elaine Boyer defeated Jean Williams. Boyer left the commission in 2014 when she pleaded guilty to defrauding taxpayers and taking kickbacks.
Bradshaw received 48 percent of votes in the three-way May primary election, and Sutton trailed with 43 percent.
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