A look back at DeKalb’s CEO
Two DeKalb County committees recommended the CEO form of government in 1977, saying it would improve lines of authority and reduce the perception that the chairman of the county commission was responsible for the county’s failures.
In 1982, DeKalb voters supported the change in government. DeKalb remains the only county in Georgia with a CEO, although 16.1 percent of all counties in the United States use an elected executive form of government, according to a report by Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.
DeKalb County has had five CEOs: Manuel Maloof from 1984 to 1992, Liane Levetan from 1993 to 2000, Vernon Jones from 2001 to 2008, Burrell Ellis from 2009 to present (suspended), Lee May from 2013 to present (interim).
DIGGING DEEP
Since Burrell Ellis was indicted on felony public corruption charges last year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has been working hard to measure the fallout by focusing on in-depth reporting that explains the impact on taxpayers. The AJC will continue digging deep on this important story. Log on to www.MyAJC.com to read more.
DeKalb County’s CEO position won’t be abolished, despite criticism from a special grand jury that the powerful job creates opportunities for fraud and cronyism.
The DeKalb Government Operations Task Force decided Wednesday to abandon the idea of changing the county’s form of government, citing a lack of support among state legislators.
DeKalb is the only county in Georgia with a chief executive elected to run government operations alongside a county commission that sets policy and budgets. Many other counties rely on an unelected manager who answers to a commission.
Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May — appointed to the post more than a year ago after CEO Burrell Ellis was criminally charged and suspended — supported eliminating the top job. He said the CEO position leads to political struggles with the county commission.
Earlier this year, May created the task force to study and offer recommendations for improving DeKalb’s government. He said Thursday he was OK with the group’s decision to keep the CEO position.
“They are doing what I asked them to do, which is to have a robust amount of conversation about the issues DeKalb County is facing,” May said. “There is no panacea in terms of form of government. Any form of government can work if you have the right people in place and the right structure.”
A special grand jury said in its report last year that the CEO position was partially responsible for government deficiencies, including fostering an “overly politicized” culture that creates inappropriate business relationships. Its investigation led to charges against Ellis that he improperly pressured government contractors for campaign contributions. Ellis is scheduled to face trial next month.
“The CEO position, an elected position, creates an unnecessary layer of politics within our government for which the return to the citizens of DeKalb County is minimal,” according to the report.
Other Atlanta-area counties, such as Cobb, Fulton and Gwinnett, use an commission partnered with a staff administrator who handles daily government operations.
Rep. Mike Jacobs, who wanted to see DeKalb’s government overhauled, said the county’s delegation to the General Assembly lacked the majority needed.
“This is a task force that’s going to have to work within certain political realities,” said Jacobs, R-Brookhaven. “We can’t solve problems that are intractable.”
DeKalb Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton said during Wednesday’s meeting she wants the group to address transparency, delineation of powers and processes in the CEO’s office.
“There has to be a way for the commission to have access to information, other than it just being granted by the CEO,” she said. “I have been in the situation where the CEO says, ‘Don’t give this person that information.’”
The co-chairman of the task force, Vaughn Irons, said the group should concentrate on issues such as service delivery, ethics and transparency.
“The best use of our time should be focused on the balance of power” between the legislative and executive branches of government, said Irons, chairman of the DeKalb County Office of Economic Development.
The task force will study government structure, cityhood movements and taxation issues until December, when it could make recommendations to the state Legislature.
About the Author
