Statewide primary
Voters on May 24 will select party nominees for contests across the state. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will give you a look at how key races are shaping up and what issues are having an impact. Check out our voter guide at www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/atlanta-voter-guide-2016/np7pd/.
In a contentious race for DeKalb County Commission, two challengers trying to unseat incumbent Sharon Barnes Sutton say she lacks integrity, while she counters that they’re being used as pawns of her rivals on the board.
Business development manager Steve Bradshaw and sales manager Lance Hammonds are opposing Sutton in the May 24 Democratic primary for County Commission District 4. They point to accusations of ethics violations that have followed Sutton for two years.
Sutton faces ethics complaints alleging that she received free YMCA memberships, used county employees at a political fundraising event and bought home office equipment with her county charge card.
The complaints, based in part on reporting by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, also say she spent the public's money to pay her then-boyfriend more than $34,000 for consulting services, to invoice $10,905 for her attorney and to buy a signed portrait of President Barack Obama for $1,100 at a charity auction. The ethics cases are on hold after Sutton sued the DeKalb Board of Ethics.
Sutton denies any wrongdoing, but Bradshaw isn’t buying it.
“People deserve better. Public service is not supposed to be about self service,” said Bradshaw, a former U.S. Army tank commander who fought in the Persian Gulf War. “This election is a hinge point in DeKalb County’s history. Changing the composition of the DeKalb Commission by even this one seat would make a dramatic difference.”
Right now, the commission splits into two factions on key votes, with Sutton voting with the group that represents much of south DeKalb. District 4 covers about 150,000 residents in the Stone Mountain area.
Sutton said she’s fighting for more government funding and facilities in her district, which she believes has been neglected over the years in favor of the wealthier northern areas of DeKalb.
She also said she’s the victim of a smear campaign by her rivals on the DeKalb Commission. Two commissioners she frequently finds herself locked in battle with — Kathie Gannon and Jeff Rader — each contributed $250 to Bradshaw’s campaign.
“I would say that all of that was a conspiracy to ruin my reputation by my political opponents,” Sutton said. “When you dig deep and investigate it, you would see there was no truth behind it. It was misrepresentations and attempts to accuse.”
Sutton has an answer for each allegation.
She said she sued the DeKalb Board of Ethics, arguing that it represents an "unconstitutional delegation of power," because she's concerned it will be used as a political weapon.
As far as her free YMCA membership, she said reimbursements for memberships are available to all county employees. She has said she didn’t ask county employees to attend the 2012 campaign fundraising golf outing.
She said the consulting services from her boyfriend at the time, Warren Mosby, were legitimate government business, as were the legal fees. And the proceeds from the presidential portrait went to a good cause, Africa’s Children’s Fund, she said.
Mosby is now running against Gannon. He and Sutton wouldn’t discuss the status of their relationship.
Sutton, the chairwoman of the Budget Committee who was elected in 2008, said the accusations are a distraction from her accomplishments: construction of the Wade Walker YMCA, a fire station and park improvements, as well as funding for a new library.
“I’ve focused on bringing my district up to parity with the rest of the county,” she said. “The people in this area have not been adequately served.”
Sutton easily defeated Bradshaw four years ago, winning 73 percent of the vote.
Bradshaw said this time will be different because Sutton has a longer record and he can point out more of the contrasts between them.
Hammonds is making his first run for public office, but also points to ethics questions concerning Sutton.
“On her watch, the community has lost trust in their county government. On her watch, economics has suffered in our community,” Hammonds said. “As elected officials, we have to take responsibility for the things that happen on our watch.”
Bradshaw raised $43,281 from contributions since early last year, according to campaign finance reports. Sutton raised $40,975 during that time, and Hammonds received $18,482 in contributions.
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