May in “Precarious Position” Due to Legislative Measure Awaiting Governor’s Signature

  Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams helped push the bill through on the final day of the legislative session. She told WABE, “The impetus for this was resolving a flaw in the law, as I see it, for dealing with the removal of a person from active engagement of their job.”

The bill states, “…the governing authority, by majority vote, shall select a temporary replacement….” The bill applies to any municipality, but it was written because DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Lee May is currently serving as interim Chief Executive Officer. Gov. Deal appointed May to that post after the indictment of CEO Burrell Ellis on theft charges.

According to May, “What makes this a little trickier is the governing authority in DeKalb County isn’t just the Board of Commissioners; it’s both the CEO and the Board of Commissioners. So I think the board and the county has to figure out how do we navigate that scenario.” Moreover, May admits, “Because it does deal with me directly, you know, it’s kind of a precarious position to be in.”

If Gov. Deal signs the bill, May says county lawyers will have to help figure out how to implement it.