Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May has resigned his seat on the County Commission so voters can choose his replacement.
The District 5 post May held on the commission has been vacant since his appointment by Gov. Nathan Deal in July 2013 to fill the CEO position. May was elected to the District 5 seat twice, in 2006 and 2010, the county said in a press release.
A special election will be held June 15 to fill the remainder of May’s term, which continues through Dec. 31, 2016, the county said.
May was named the county’s CEO after corruption charges were brought against former CEO Burrell Ellis. Ellis faces a retrial on the charges June 1.
In a statement released by the county, May criticized his fellow commissioners for failing to name an interim replacement to the seat.
“Due to petty personal politics and clear obstruction, three commissioners have intentionally abused the process to prevent more than 140,000 citizens from their constitutional right of representation,” May said. “These commissioners have denied the opportunity to appoint well-qualified individuals to the District 5 seat and have sabotaged other efforts to reach a consensus. They have chosen to avert the will of the people.”
May apologized to his constituents for the commission’s inaction.
“I want to apologize to the citizens of District 5 for the actions of those who don’t live there or even represent you. The behavior they have displayed has divided this county and is contrary to the constitutional principles our country was founded upon,” May said. “The time has come for the Board of Commissioners to put aside political games and personal differences and start representing the people of this great county. The interest of the people must come first.”
