State Panel Recommends Suspending Ellis

July 15th, 2013

A state review panel is recommending the governor suspend indicted DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis.

Gov. Nathan Deal now has the authority to decide whether to follow the panel’s recommendation or allow Ellis to remain in office. A Deal spokesman says the governor will make a decision by the end of this week.

The three-member panel issued the recommendation after hearing from both sides of the case Monday morning.

At the state judicial building across from the capitol, DeKalb District Attorney Robert James argued the charges of extortion, conspiracy, and theft are bound to affect Ellis’s day-to-day responsibilities.

“The CEO has misused taxpayer funds. That’s really a big part of it.”

James said he plans to call county employees as witnesses. He said it will cause dysfunction within the county.

“I would say that it’s difficult to imagine how one day these individuals would be sitting in a courtroom offering testimony against the CEO and the next day or perhaps the same day they’ll be sitting in an executive meeting conducting the normal and ordinary business of the county.”

Ellis lead attorney Craig Gillan countered the CEO has remained an effective county administrator despite the charges. To prevent any conflicts, Gillan said Ellis has delegated some of his responsibilities regarding contractor agreements to his chief operating officer.

“The DeKalb County citizens are being served well by Mr. Ellis,” said Gillan.

It was the first time the district attorney and Ellis have shared a room since the indictment was issued last month. They sat just a few feet from one another across a conference table.

For the Ellis camp, Gillan did all the talking. He argued the 15-count indictment should be tossed on technical and substantive grounds.

Ellis’ arraignment is scheduled for July 29^th.