A pastor and a businessman will challenge Burrell Ellis on Tuesday for the DeKalb County chief executive officer post in an election that so far has centered around economic development.
Ellis and rivals Gregory Adams and Jerome Edmondson are all Democrats. No Republican is running for the seat.
Ellis is seeking re-election based on his record of cutting spending by $130 million in four years. He said if voters give him another term he will expand a local stimulus program that is projected to create thousands of jobs through major government projects such a $1.35 billion overhaul of the water/sewer system.
He also touts his accomplishments on local quality-of-life projects, such as opening new libraries and breaking ground on new senior centers around the county.
"We reduced the size of our government while at the same time making the investments that position us to be ready for when the economy comes back and create jobs along the way," Ellis said. "It's that track record and vision that will move the county forward."
But Ellis, an attorney who served as a county commissioner for eight years before taking office in 2008, also pushed for the largest tax hike in recent history. DeKalb raised its tax rate 26 percent last year to make ends meet when property values plunged far lower than expected.
In his campaign, Edmondson has pointed out that lack of planning, arguing that his background will help him run DeKalb like a business. His first order of business will be to develop a five-year economic development plan for the county, work he said must precede his future goals of hiring more police officers and cutting taxes.
"If we are not economically growing this county, nothing else matters," Edmondson said. "We have all the economic engines to drive us, but we have absentee leadership."
Edmondson has also stressed a commitment to work with the county commission. Commissioners have been involved in several public power struggles with Ellis.
Adams has criticized the scuffles as well, calling them distractions from finding common ground that will move the county forward.
An officer for four years in the DeKalb police department and a U.S. Army veteran, Adams said the most clear point of agreement in the county is support for public safety. He had pledged to comb through the existing budget to find enough money to give raises to all county firefighters and police officers.
Those incentives will help keep existing staff and attract the best outside candidates, two key areas in boosting the departments and the community, he said.
"The money is there. We just have to look collectively at where we spend it, and I think we all agree that public safety should be our priority," Adams said. "Business and development are only going to come if everyone feels comfortable in our community."
With no Republicans in the race, the outcome will be determined in the primary or in an Aug. 21 runoff between the top two contestants if no one wins a majority.
BOX
Gregory Adams
Age: 48. Married with six adult children. Previously spent three years, U.S. Army 101st Airborne and three years, Army Reserve. Stepped down after four years, DeKalb County Police Officer, to run for office. Remains senior pastor, Deliverance Temple True Church of God in Christ, 16 years.
Jerome Edmonson
Age: 49. Married with three adult children. First black franchise owner, Denny's Restaurants in Michigan. Previously worked as a manager for KFC and A&W. Former U.S. Air Force airman. Has owned Entrepreneur Development Network Global, teaching small businesses how to secure contracts and franchises, for 18 years.
Age: 54. Married with two young children. Graduate, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. Law degree from University of Texas. A real estate attorney with the law firm Epstein, Becker & Green for 20 years. Former lecturer in negotiation and problem solving, Georgia State University. Elected 2012 president of the County Executives of America.
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