Ethics complaint targets DeKalb Commissioner Watson
An ethics complaint against DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson accuses him of using his county Visa card for personal purchases and potential involvement with two men who allegedly sought to facilitate bribes.
The complaint, filed by DeKalb resident Rhea Johnson on Wednesday, asks the county Board of Ethics to investigate and consider removing Watson from office.
The Board of Ethics is already investigating allegations that three other commissioners abused their taxpayer-backed charge cards.
Watson has denied wrongdoing and begun to replay the county for nearly $5,000 worth of cellphone bills he had put on his government debit card. His attorney wasn’t immediately available for comment Thursday.
The Board of Ethics has the power to reprimand, suspend or remove officials.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
