DeKalb voters rein in CEO’s power
November 6, 2008 at 2:59 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsWhen DeKalb County Commissioner Burrell Ellis drops his title next year and assumes his newly elected role of County CEO, he’ll take office without some of the powers enjoyed by his predecessors.
On Nov. 4, more than 64 percent of DeKalb County voters approved an amendment that reins in some powers of CEO — the only office of its kind in metro Atlanta in which a single person oversees the day-to-day functions of government and sets the agenda for county commission meetings.
Once Ellis takes office, that agenda-setting power will belong to the commission according to rules it adopts. (Commissioner Jeff Rader says staff is currently at work on the rules.) If the CEO wants to introduce legislation, he would have to do so through a commissioner who would then send it to the appropriate committee. Rader says legislation could be expedited if it’s an urgent matter.
The CEO would still submit the budget, make staff decisions, and appoint department heads, among other powers. If a tiebreaker vote is needed, the CEO would cast it if each member of the commission requested he or she do so.
Introduced by state Sen. Emanuel Jones, D-Ellenwood, the amendment has an understandable critic: Vernon Jones, the soon-to-be former CEO.
“If you have a problem with government, you vote the person out of office,” Jones said at U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ Election Night campaign party in Buckhead. “You don’t change the duties of the office. If that thing passes, you’re going to see chaos.”
Jones said that county commissioners aren’t as plugged in to the nuts and bolts of government operations as the CEO.
“You’re going to have no chiefs and too many Indians,” he said.
When I asked him how it felt to be the inspiration for that particular piece of legislation, Jones immediately agreed with the notion and said that some people — particularly the media — didn’t understand him.
Regardless, it’s what the voters wanted. I’ll post more interesting quips and insight from Jones later in the day.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Why is the world is Jones at Saxby’s party? Unbelievable! Didn’t this guy just run on the democratic ticket to compete against Saxby. It seems as if the demoocratic voters of GA had it right….this guy is a closet republican. We need to tar and feather him and run his butt out of town.
November 6th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
He was probably there for the chicks
November 6th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Wait, Vernon was at SAXBY’s party?
November 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Dammit, I didn’t have time to toss up the Wise Words of Vernon post I promised that explains why Jones was at the party. I should’ve gone ahead and just explained that above.
For the record: Jones was not a guest at Chambliss’ party. He was there as a commentator for a media outlet that was broadcasting live on General Election night. He sat at a table in front of a bank of cameras for the entire night and opined about the election.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Somehow Vernon at Saxby’s soiree and Vernon in front of a bank of cameras are both equally plausible situations.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I guess I can buy that reasoning. Besides he probably wouldn’t be well received at the DPG party anyway.