DeKalb County’s CEO would be a nonpartisan office under a bill approved Tuesday by the state Senate.
House Bill 87 was amended by the Senate Ethics Committee to include the DeKalb language at the urging of Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody. Millar’s argument is that because Democrats make up the political majority in DeKalb, they neglect Republican-led areas of the county, including Dunwoody, when campaigning.
He was opposed, however, by other DeKalb senators including Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson, D-Tucker. Henson said the county, which is also majority minority, had not been consulted by Millar, who is white. “This is a racist, partisan political act you should not be proud of given our past,” said Henson, who is also white, using unusually strong language on the chamber floor.
The 31-20 vote sent HB 87 back to the House for consideration. The bill would additionally allow local officials to create voting precincts in gated communities, although the Senate amended the bill to include sub-divisions, retirement complexes and assisted living facilities with more than 100 residents.
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