UPDATE (Jan. 9): Newly elected DeKalb Commissioner Steve Bradshaw said Monday he will vote for Commissioner Kathie Gannon to become the board's leader.
Bradshaw, who defeated Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton last year, said in a statement that Gannon will lead DeKalb “in a more collaborative way.”
Gannon is challenging Commissioner Larry Johnson for the presiding officer job, which has the power to shape the county’s policy agenda and pick committee leaders.
Bradshaw said Gannon, whose super district covers north and south areas, represents a cross-section of the county. The vote for presiding officer will be held Tuesday.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE (Jan. 3):
DeKalb County’s new government leaders got to work Tuesday, holding their first meetings since winning their elections on the promise of accountable, scandal-free government.
Voters overhauled the county's government last fall, choosing CEO Mike Thurmond and two fresh commissioners. This is the first time since July 2013, when former CEO Burrell Ellis was indicted, that the county has had a permanent CEO and a full seven-member commission.
Officials have pledged to put years of corruption allegations behind them and to heal the county's divisions. For years, commissioners have divided roughly along geographic lines on key votes, with those representing the northern and southern parts of the county fighting over passing the county's budget, building an animal shelter and constructing a soccer complex.
The first test for the Board of Commissioners will come quickly, when it chooses a presiding officer next week. Right now, support is split between Commissioner Larry Johnson, the incumbent leader of the board, and Commissioner Kathie Gannon.
The presiding officer has the power to shape the agenda for government policies and pick committee leaders. The commission will soon consider the county’s nearly $1.4 billion annual budget, pay raises for police officers and a proposed sales tax for road repaving and other infrastructure.
Johnson represents East Lake, Cedar Grove and the intersection of I-285 and I-20, and Gannon’s super district covers the western half of the county.
Both say they’re best qualified to build consensus among elected officials and improve government services.
Gannon said she wants a more accountable government that scrutinizes public spending, strengthens public safety and more thoroughly vets policies. Johnson said he would work to unify the board and support pay raises for police officers and firefighters.
“This is a good opportunity to respond to voters who have asked for a change in how we do business,” Gannon said. “We need to establish trust, work together and not continue to divide ourselves.”
Johnson said he represents stability on the board.
"We've worked on a lot of tough issues, and I want the opportunity to continue working on them with our new CEO," Johnson said.
Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, who took office this week after defeating incumbent Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton, could be a swing vote in deciding the presiding officer. He wouldn't say Tuesday whether he would support Gannon or Johnson for presiding officer.
“I can’t speak to what’s occurred prior to today. There’s a split, and that split is derivative of whatever has occurred in the past,” Bradshaw said. “From today going forward, I want this commission to work in a cooperative and respective manner.”
The board's other newly elected member, Commissioner Greg Adams, said he supports Johnson for the leadership position.
Commissioner Jeff Rader, who previously opposed Johnson for the presiding officer post, said the board should do a better job of representing constituents by addressing blight, holding down property taxes, improving infrastructure and promoting economic development.
“We need to have our leaders articulate a clear agenda and vision about how things are going to be different in the future than they have been in the past,” Rader said.
DeKalb leadership changes
CEO Mike Thurmond replaces Burrell Ellis
Commissioner Steve Bradshaw replaces Sharon Barnes Sutton
Commissioner Greg Adams replaces Stan Watson
District Attorney Sherry Boston replaces Robert James
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