Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves has asked Attorney General Sam Olens to investigate the appointment of an Atlanta City Councilmember to the authority that oversees Turner Field.
Last month, the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority board voted unanimously to name Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms – an attorney and ally of Mayor Kasim Reed – the authority’s executive director. Eaves decried the move, saying it was orchestrated by Reed to control the authority as he negotiates the possible sale of Turner Field.
Now he’s asked Olens to determine whether the appointment violates city ethics rules. Among other things, he’s asked the attorney general to determine whether Bottoms’ interests as executive director conflict with her role as a council member.
Bottoms said she’s reached out to Eaves to discuss his concerns, but that he hasn’t agreed to meet. She hopes the query to Olens settles the issue.
“If that is what is needed to help everybody move on and help the process move along, then I am completely willing and prepared to cooperate in whatever way is necessary,” she said.
Bottoms said she consulted with the city ethics officer, Nina Hickson, who found no clear ethical conflict with her holding both positions.
Reed blasted Eaves on Friday.
“I think this is a bunch of false controversy. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, the result is going to be the same,” Reed said. “…I think it’s just a lot of histrionics and now his behavior is just funny to me.”
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