Outgoing DeKalb commissioner spent nearly $10,000 on 21-page report

DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton speaks during a debate with challenger Steve Bradshaw on June 27. Bradshaw went on to win election to represent DeKalb Commission District 4. KENT D. JOHNSON/ KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton speaks during a debate with challenger Steve Bradshaw on June 27. Bradshaw went on to win election to represent DeKalb Commission District 4. KENT D. JOHNSON/ KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Before DeKalb Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton left office, she spent $9,100 in taxpayer money to prepare a 21-page report about her eight years in county government, according to Channel 2 Action News.

The transition report lists her successes and challenges before she lost re-election last year to Steve Bradshaw, who now represents the Stone Mountain-area district.

But Bradshaw told Channel 2 on Tuesday that he didn’t receive a copy of the report.

“I’ll put it like this: I wouldn’t spend $9,100 out of my office budget that way,” Bradshaw said.

The report includes information about public safety, employee pay, senior centers, libraries and other initiatives.

“I feel it is not just sensible, but my last responsibility to make an accounting of what we have done, why it was done and what remains open,” according to Sutton’s message at the beginning of the report. “This is not intended as a political document or report. This is a transition report.”

Sutton didn’t respond to Channel 2’s requests for comment.

Sutton delivered the report to Commissioner Greg Adams, who won a special election to represent a super district in the eastern half of the county.

“It was nothing more than just some documents stating a step-by-step learning skill for me. That’s what she said,” Adams said.