DeKalb CEO will deliver two ‘state of the county’ addresses

10/07/2019 -- Decatur, Georgia -- DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond speaks during a presser to introduce newly appointed DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos at the Manuel J. Maloof Auditorium, Monday, October 7, 2019. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Credit: Alyssa Pointer

Credit: Alyssa Pointer

10/07/2019 -- Decatur, Georgia -- DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond speaks during a presser to introduce newly appointed DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos at the Manuel J. Maloof Auditorium, Monday, October 7, 2019. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal Constitution)

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond will deliver two  ‘state of the county’ addresses next month.

Thurmond — who has not yet announced whether his 2020 plans include running for re-election as CEO, seeking a U.S. Senate seat, or neither — will give one state of the county speech on March 18.

That event is a ticketed luncheon aimed a "business leaders and other community partners," according to a news release. Hosted by the Council for Quality Growth and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, it will be held at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

Tickets for non-Chamber members are $85. More information can be found here.

Thurmond will deliver a second speech at 7 p.m. March 19. That event — held at Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road in Lithonia — is free and open to the public, a news release said.

Thurmond, who is in his first term as DeKalb's CEO, has been suggested as a potential Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Republican Kelly Loeffler. He has been coy when asked directly about a potential run.

But one way or another, his intentions should grow clearer in coming weeks.

A bill making its way through the Georgia legislature could change how the Senate race is decided and move up key dates for candidates interested in running.

Even if it doesn’t, candidate qualifying for DeKalb County offices — including CEO — will be held the first week of March.