District Attorney Robert James faces a difficult decision about a case that seemed so promising during the investigation, but, in court, did not live up to the promise. Suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis also has a difficult decision to make about his own future. Both men were elected to protect the best interests of DeKalb County, and I hope their sense of duty will guide each to bring this “clash of titans” to an end.
In only his first term, James has brought Ellis, the county’s CEO, and Crawford Lewis, the superintendent of schools, to court. I am sure that for Mr. James neither case produced the expected outcome. But he must recognize that he has done DeKalb County good service by highlighting the pervasive nature of the “culture of corruption” which continues to sully DeKalb’s once-fine name, and has stirred to action DeKalb voters whose silence over the last 14 years allowed that culture to arise. In a democracy, government belongs to the people, and Mr. James has shown the people of DeKalb that they must take back their government and root out the corruption.
And he has found allies in unlikely places. Interim CEO Lee May, who once dragged his feet on some reform issues, has become a champion of ethical government. While Mr. May’s organizational task force excluded citizens from membership, other organizations composed of ordinary citizens, such as Blueprint DeKalb, DeKalb Citizens for Good Government and South DeKalb Improvement Association have organized throughout the county and demanded reform.
Even if he does not send Ellis to prison, James will not have failed because DeKalb County is on the mend. Politicians who put their own interests above those of the county may soon be history.
Burrell Ellis also has a decision to make. In light of the information coming from the jury about how deeply divided they were during their deliberations, he could decide to stand and fight. Assuming he can continue to afford it, he has assembled a very talented legal team to defend him. But Ellis must consider that he can no longer lead DeKalb County. The evidence presented was damning and his impaired reputation will hinder, not help, DeKalb as it tries to recover from this nightmare. Were Ellis to return to office, no honest and competent business would ever bid on a county contract. No honest contractor would ever seek a permit. And the taxpayers would continue to spend millions to pay for substandard work performed by those whose only qualification was their willingness to pay tribute.
In the interest of the people of DeKalb County who elected both James and Ellis, these two political titans must end this nightmare and settle this case. Only then can DeKalb County really begin to heal and rebuild its reputation.
