‘Change election’ will bring in wave of DeKalb leaders

From the stain of corruption to the county’s inability to get water bills right, DeKalb’s next leaders will have their hands full as they try to repair the government’s damaged image.

Tuesday's election will determine just who will take on issues of accountability, competence, crime and customer service.

The most prominent race on the ballot is for DeKalb CEO, a position responsible for running a $1.38 billion government that serves nearly 735,000 county residents. Voters also will choose two county commissioners and several state legislators.

Some voters in southeast DeKalb will decide whether to create the city of Stonecrest.

“It will be a change election for DeKalb County,” said Mike Thurmond, a former DeKalb school superintendent running for CEO. “People want to move in a different direction. We have to rebuild trust in government.”

Thurmond, a Democrat who also was Georgia Labor Commissioner for 12 years, faces Jack Lovelace, a Republican and retired business manager.

“The voters are looking for a recovery,” Lovelace said. “We can restore integrity in our county government. … It doesn’t have to be like this.”

Turnover in DeKalb’s leadership already began in this year’s Democratic primary election.

Sherry Boston, who is currently the county's solicitor, defeated DeKalb District Attorney Robert James in May and will take office in January. In a DeKalb Commission race, businessman Steve Bradshaw unseated Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton in a July runoff.

Stonecrest

A ballot question will ask voters whether to create the city of Stonecrest, which would include about 50,000 residents over nearly 30 square miles.

If approved, Stonecrest would become the fourth city formed in DeKalb in recent years, following in the footsteps of Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Tucker. Only voters within the borders of the proposed city will be able to cast ballots.

Supporters of the cityhood movement say they want a locally controlled government that can bring a sharper focus on business growth to the region.

But critics say a city wouldn’t do a better job than DeKalb’s government, and they doubt that incorporation would do much for economic development.

DeKalb Commission (East DeKalb)

Eight candidates are competing in a special election to represent DeKalb Commission Super District 7, which covers Doraville, Tucker, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Pine Lake and unincorporated areas.

With so many candidates in the race, it probably won’t be settled on Election Day because it takes a majority to win the race outright. A runoff would be held Dec. 6.

The seat became vacant when former DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson resigned in March to make an unsuccessful run for DeKalb tax commissioner.

The candidates, all Democrats, are Greg Adams, Diane Adoma, George Chidi, Faye Coffield, Randal Mangham, Ed Patton, Rita Robinzine and John Tolbert. A ninth candidate, Jerome Edmondson, appears on the ballot but announced in July he’s not pursuing his candidacy.

DeKalb Commission (Stone Mountain area)

After winning the Democratic primary, Bradshaw now faces Willie Willis, a Republican tax examiner, in the race for DeKalb Commission District 4.

Tax break

A referendum asks whether DeKalb should continue offering a tax break for homeowners for another five years.

The tax break, called the frozen exemption, gives residents a discount on their taxes to offset increases in county taxes that occur when assessed property values rise.

DeKalb Sheriff

Sheriff Jeff Mann, a Democrat, is being challenged by Harold Dennis, a Republican and business owner.

Georgia General Assembly

Seven DeKalb seats in the Georgia Legislature are being contested: