After U.S. Congressman Hank Johnson (D) and his wife, DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson, endorsed Larry Johnson in the Democratic primary runoff election for DeKalb County CEO, his opponent said endorsements mean little to her.
Johnson, who garnered 34% in the May 21 race for CEO, faces Lorraine Cochran- Johnson, who while gathering 46% of the vote, fell short of the 50% threshold to take the seat. Both served on the board before running for the CEO position, which was held by Michael Thurmond, who cannot run again because of term limits.
Cochran-Johnson said, although she has received significant endorsements from many elected officials supporting her candidacy, “endorsements, in my opinion, come in the form of votes.”
“I’m frankly sick of the endorsement game,” she said. “I don’t want someone to get up on a stump and shout my name. I want to carry the message to the people, and I will win on the merits of my hard work.”
She touted some of her accomplishments recently in a campaign video.
Hank Johnson, representing Georgia’s 4th Congressional District, praised Johnson for his experience and dedication.
“Commissioner Larry Johnson is a proven leader who is dedicated to serving the people of DeKalb County. His experience, integrity, and commitment make him the clear choice for CEO,” Hank Johnson said during a press conference.
Former candidate Steve Bradshaw, who finished third in the primary with 19% of the vote, also endorsed Johnson.
Johnson has served as DeKalb District 3 Commissioner since November 2002. In 2018, he was re-elected for his fifth term. Cochran-Johnson has been on the DeKalb Board of Commission since 2018.
Polls open for early voting June 10-14. Election day is June 18.