Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May plans to resign the southeast DeKalb commission seat he was originally elected to, clearing the way for a special election to give the area full representation for the first time in almost two years, according to a report by Channel 2 Action News.
May’s seat hasn’t been filled since Gov. Nathan Deal appointed May to replace suspended CEO Burrell Ellis in July 2013. A politically divided county commission has repeatedly deadlocked on finding a temporary replacement commissioner.
His resignation would put the representation decision in the hands of the more than 140,000 voters in southeast DeKalb District 5.
May’s staff didn’t confirm that he is stepping down from his commission seat, but he has scheduled a Friday morning press conference to discuss “a major announcement.”
May’s term expires at the end of 2016.
May had previously resisted calls to resign, saying they were politically motivated. May would retain his position as the county’s interim chief executive.
By previously declining to resign his commission post, May had retained the option of returning to the commission if Ellis is acquitted and returns to his role as the county’s leader.
Ellis faces a June 1 retrial on charges that he shook down county contractors for campaign contributions.
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