Effort to eliminate DeKalb’s powerful leader falls short

Despite criticisms that DeKalb County's top government position concentrates power and leads to corruption, state lawmakers declined to pass a bill this year to eliminate the CEO job.

Legislators who opposed the change said they weren't convinced the CEO role is the root of DeKalb's problems, and they wanted a broader review of the county's form of government.

DeKalb is the only county in Georgia with an elected CEO, while many other counties hire a manager or administrator to oversee government operations.