DeKalb Government One Step Closer to Overhaul

ATLANTA, GA -- The Georgia General Assembly may overhaul DeKalb County’s government sooner rather than later.

A bill proposed by state Sen. Fran Millar (R-Atlanta), who represents portions of Dunwoody, Doraville, Brookhaven and Chamblee, moved out of Senate committee on Tuesday, reports the AJC.

Millar’s bill would overhaul the county’s government in time for the 2018 elections, rather than waiting until 2020 as a bill from state Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) is proposing.

Both Millar’s and Holcomb’s bills would place a professional county manager in charge of the government’s operations.

Millar’s bill proposes seven commission districts, while Holcomb is proposing eight. Both bills eliminate the CEO position.

All of these proposed changes are coming at a time when DeKalb will elect a new CEO later this year. Interim CEO Lee May announced earlier this month that he would not seek election to the CEO position.

May served as interim CEO for more than two years, taking over when incumbent Burrell Ellis was indicted on numerous corruption and bribery charges. Gov. Nathan Deal appointed him in July 2013.

Earlier this week, former Georgia Labor Commissioner and DeKalb school superintendent Michael Thurmond announced he is running for DeKalb County CEO. Thurmond enters the race as one of the leading candidates for the job.