Options for filling the southeast DeKalb seat
- DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis' case could be resolved
- The DeKalb Commission could confirm George Turner's nomination
- The DeKalb Commission could reject Turner's nomination
- Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May could resign his district seat, triggering a special election for southeast DeKalb
- May could resign his CEO position, returning him to his district seat and allowing Gov. Nathan Deal to appoint a different interim CEO
- The Georgia General Assembly could write a new law for how to appoint an interim commissioner
DeKalb County commissioners failed again Tuesday to approve Interim CEO Lee May’s nominee to temporarily replace him on the board, leaving 140,000 residents still without representation.
The commission was unable to decide on the nomination of George Turner to represent southeastern DeKalb.
Turner, the president of a community council that reviews zoning changes, would take the seat left open by May when Gov. Nathan Deal appointed him in July 2013 to fill in for DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis. Ellis is suspended while he faces corruption charges.
With the board short two members because of May’s reassignment and the resignation of Elaine Boyer, who pleaded guilty to fraud charges, members have deadlocked over Turner’s appointment for four months.
Last week’s election of Nancy Jester to the commission didn’t bring the situation closer to resolution. Turner’s confirmation fell short on a 2-2 vote, with Jester abstaining, saying she needed more time to make a decision.
Southeast DeKalb resident Willie Pringle called on the commissioners to “do the right thing” and confirm Turner.
“We’re also holding y’all accountable,” Pringle said at their meeting. “When you don’t have representation, a lot of times things don’t get done.”
Another resident, Joel Edwards, said he’d have to start organizing protests at the DeKalb government building if there’s no movement toward a resolution.
“We need to come together and make a decision,” Edwards said. “We’re all in limbo. Something needs to happen.”
The commissioners who voted against Turner’s nomination, Jeff Rader and Kathie Gannon, objected to May appointing his own replacement. Residents in southeastern DeKalb don’t get to vote in a special election because May is still in office, leaving the decision on a short-term representative up to the commission and May.
Rader called for May to resign his district seat and trigger a special election.
“It’s imperative that we have an election to fill this seat,” Rader said. “Both sides remain intransigent.”
But Commissioners Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson said the commission’s inaction on Turner’s appointment is denying residents a voice in their government.
“It’s been far too long for the 5th district to be unrepresented, ” said Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton. “It’s disgraceful.”
Commissioner Larry Johnson also has backed Turner, but he was absent from Tuesday’s meeting when the vote was taken. Four votes are required to either confirm or deny Turner’s nomination.
Gannon said the commission should have been included before May picked Turner, who emerged as a finalist for the job after a citizen panel evaluated 20 applicants.
“We did not make a selection. We were given a selection,” she said.
The power struggle will continue indefinitely until either the commission votes differently or Ellis’ criminal case reaches a conclusion.
Charges remain pending against Ellis, who is accused of shaking down county contractors for campaign contributions. A jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial in October. DeKalb District Attorney Robert James hasn’t announced whether he will seek a retrial.
If Ellis is found not guilty or the charges against him are dropped, he would return to the CEO’s position and May would again represent southeastern DeKalb. If Ellis is found guilty, a special election would be held to replace him as CEO.
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