The latest reform proposed for DeKalb County's troubled government — eliminating its powerful and unique CEO position — has gained support from Gov. Nathan Deal, a few state lawmakers and Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May himself.
But the idea might not be such a quick fix.
Any change would have to first be approved by DeKalb’s state representatives and senators, many of whom doubt that scuttling the CEO job alone would do much to solve the county’s problems. Several legislators are suggesting a broader review of DeKalb’s government structure, a process that could take years.
DeKalb is the only county in Georgia with an elected CEO who runs its $1.33 billion-a-year government, while the county commission operates as the legislative branch responsible for approving budgets, enacting ordinances and making zoning decisions.
By comparison, Cobb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties operate under a system in which a professional administrator handles daily government operations and answers to the county commission.
Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-Atlanta, said he will introduce legislation to change DeKalb’s form of government.
“There’s a real hunger for reform. If DeKalb’s governance were exemplary, we would not be having this conversation,” Holcomb said. “I don’t want this to be legislation that is either geographically or racially polarizing. I want this to be something that has broad-based support across the county.”
The CEO position, which voters approved in 1982, came under renewed scrutiny after investigators Mike Bowers and Richard Hyde issued a report Sept. 30 that called for May to resign, saying they found "appalling corruption and a stunning absence of leadership in DeKalb County."
The chairman of DeKalb’s delegation to the Georgia House of Representatives, Rep. Howard Mosby, D-Atlanta, said he’s concerned that removing the CEO without conducting a comprehensive review of the county’s government structure could make matters even worse.
“Personally, I think it’s a little knee-jerkish right now,” Mosby said. “I would caution my colleagues that it’s not just a matter of saying the CEO is gone. It would require a complete rewrite of the DeKalb Organizational Act. I don’t think you can just get rid of it next session and that would be it.”
Besides killing off the CEO position, other options for changes being discussed include enacting term limits for commissioners, eliminating commission superdistricts, creating neighborhood planning units and instituting stronger ethics rules.
Several lawmakers prefer legislation that would create a charter review commission made up of citizens who would be responsible for evaluating the county’s framework.
“What you don’t want to happen is have this big reactionary change in the form of government and then be back here in two years. Doing this piecemeal doesn’t work,” said Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, D-Lithonia. “Otherwise, what you’re doing is transferring the propensity to be corrupt from the CEO position to the county manager position or the head of the Board of Commissioners.”
May, who has said he doesn't plan to resign unless a groundswell of residents asks him to, counts himself among those would would like to see the CEO job abolished. May has served as CEO since July 2012, when Deal appointed him to replace CEO Burrell Ellis following Ellis' indictment.
“Because it’s such a concentration of power, I just believe that the correct form of government for us in DeKalb County is for us to have a county manager,” May said during an Oct. 13 community meeting.
Allen Moye, the chairman of the DeKalb County Government Reorganization Commission that recommended the transition to the CEO structure in 1979, said restoring power to the DeKalb Board of Commissioners would result in governing by committee.
County commissioners would divert blame for DeKalb’s problems onto the county manager, who wouldn’t be an elected official whom voters could hold accountable, he said.
“Getting rid of the CEO will not get rid of corruption,” Moye said. “The problem we have now is not the form of government. … It’s the people.”
To those who support eliminating the CEO, the decision is clear. Sen. Fran Millar, R-Atlanta, said the CEO job is political, but a strong county manager would bring expertise to the job of managing government operations.
“Obviously the CEO system hasn’t worked very well,” Millar said. “Having someone professional in that role is very important.”
DeKalb Commissioner Nancy Jester said residents want better government quickly, and they don’t want to wait on a study committee.
She said a comprehensive review of county government would “divide DeKalb and create discord” by introducing issues that don’t enjoy as much support as eliminating the CEO does.
For now, many state lawmakers representing DeKalb seem more inclined to review the issue before rushing to action.
“While I am skeptical that a transition to a more powerful commission form of government will solve our problems in DeKalb, I believe the idea deserves more discussion and public input,” said Rep. Rahn Mayo, D-Decatur.
Even if a majority of DeKalb’s legislative delegation passes a local bill to change the county’s form of government, the proposal would also have to be approved by voters.
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