The key election date for DeKalb County government isn't in November. Tuesday's primary will have a bigger local impact.
Leadership of the scandal-plagued county is at stake, with contested countywide races for CEO, district attorney, sheriff, tax commissioner, judges and more. Residents in some areas also will vote for DeKalb Commission and the Georgia General Assembly.
The primary election will set the course for DeKalb, where dozens of officials have been found guilty of corruption-related charges and an outside investigation alleged widespread misconduct.
Because DeKalb voters lean heavily Democratic, most of the countywide races likely will be decided then. Republicans in DeKalb rarely win countywide seats in the higher-turnout November general elections.
Races to watch:
CEO: Three candidates are running for the top position in the county's government, responsible for managing a $1.3 billion annual budget and more than 6,000 employees. Former DeKalb schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond, former DeKalb Commissioner Connie Stokes and car towing business owner Joe Bembry will compete in the Democratic primary. The winner will face Republican Jack Lovelace in November.
District Attorney: DeKalb District Attorney Robert James says he's been tough but fair while in office, while his opponent, DeKalb Solicitor-General Sherry Boston, questions his integrity and ability to clean up the county.
County Commission: Opponents of Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton accuse her of being unethical, but she says her actions have been above board as she's fought to secure government resources for her Stone Mountain-area district. She faces Army veteran Steve Bradshaw and sales manager Lance Hammonds. In another County Commission race, Commissioner Kathie Gannon battles political consultant Warren Mosby to represent a super district covering the western half of the county.
Tax Commissioner: Three candidates are running for the county's highest-paid job, with annual compensation of $242,000. Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson and attorney Susannah Scott both say the third candidate, former DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson, can't be trusted with managing nearly $1 billion in annual tax money. Watson didn't return a phone call seeking comment.
Georgia General Assembly: Former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones is trying to make a return to the Georgia House of Representatives in a race against three other Democrats: legal support consultant Rhonda Taylor, small businessman Charles Hill and retired educator David Neville. In a Dunwoody Republican race, Rep. Tom Taylor is fending off a challenge from Vietnam veteran Tom Owens after Taylor was arrested for DUI last month.
Turnout in the primary election likely will be low compared to the general election, when the presidential race will drive voters to the polls. Four years ago, 31 percent of registered voters participated in the primary, and 73 percent cast ballots in November.
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