The DeKalb Commission took a step Tuesday toward giving 140,000 residents in southeast DeKalb a county representative for the first time in more than a year and a half.
The commission voted 3-3 to reject Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May’s nomination of community member George Turner, and May broke the tie by opposing Turner so that the process of naming a new representative could move forward.
Then May immediately nominated Kathryn Rice, the leader of a movement to form a city of Greenhaven in South DeKalb. The commission didn’t vote on Rice’s nomination and could consider it as soon as Feb. 24.
Southeast DeKalb has lacked its district representative since July 2013, when May was elevated from his commission seat by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve as the county’s chief executive while criminal charges are pending against CEO Burrell Ellis. Ellis is accused of shaking down county contractors for campaign contributions.
Several DeKalb residents told commissioners at their Tuesday meeting that they need to fill the vacant southeast DeKalb seat.
“We are here this morning to make sure that our voices and our votes are counted,” said Barbara Lee. “We will continue to monitor your actions until a seat at the table is available.”
Another resident, Harold Smith, said commissioners were acting unethically by denying the area a district representative.
“They will steal your soul by not giving you a representative, but rather treat you as a child,” Smith said.
The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation last year outlining a process for the area to get representation, but the county commission had deadlocked since August over May’s nomination of Turner. Commissioners opposing the nomination said they didn’t want May to hand-pick his own replacement on the board.
Next, the DeKalb Commission could confirm Rice as a temporary commissioner. Or if Rice is also voted down, then the commission would gain sole authority to name its seventh member.
Commissioners Larry Johnson, Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson voted against the motion to reject Turner’s nomination, and Commissioners Kathie Gannon, Nancy Jester and Jeff Rader voted for the motion.
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