Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis returns to power

Dekalb County CEO Burrell Ellis was reinstated to his elected position Monday. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM
Dekalb County CEO Burrell Ellis was reinstated to his elected position Monday. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM
By
Dec 12, 2016

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis was reinstated Monday after the Georgia Supreme Court overturned his conviction.

Ellis had been suspended from office since July 2013, when he faced criminal charges for allegedly shaking down county businesses for campaign contributions.

A jury found Ellis guilty in July 2015 of attempted extortion and perjury, but the state's highest court threw out the verdict Nov. 30 because he didn't receive a fair trial. He was reinstated when the Georgia Supreme Court sent the case back to DeKalb courts.

Ellis will be the county’s chief executive for the last three weeks of his four-year term, which ends Dec. 31.

He replaces Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May. Newly elected CEO Mike Thurmond will take office in January.

Though his conviction was reversed, the charges remain pending. Incoming DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston will have to decide whether to seek a retrial.

Please read the full story on MyAJC.com.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach reports.

About the Author

Mark Niesse covers Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson speaks at a press conference at the Manual J. Maloof building in Decatur on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Cochran-Johnson announced a freeze on creating new positions without approval and spending on "non-essential" items. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

DeKalb County tightens belt amid uncertainty about federal funding

Training center opponents vow to complicate 2025 city elections

Opponents of the law enforcement training center, known to some as "Cop City," told the AJC they promise to be a thorn in the side for Mayor Andre Dickens as he campaigns.

Promise unkept: Atlanta’s class action lawsuit over Forest Cove never filed

Despite Mayor Andre Dickens’ promise to get tough on Forest Cove owner Millennia through a class-action lawsuit, no complaint was ever filed.

The Latest

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson speaks at a press conference at the Manual J. Maloof building in Decatur on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Cochran-Johnson announced a freeze on creating new positions without approval and spending on "non-essential" items. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

DeKalb County tightens belt amid uncertainty about federal funding

PHOTOS: Confederate memorials in metro Atlanta

Training center opponents vow to complicate 2025 city elections

Featured

An aerial image shows the Atlanta skyline on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Atlanta is known for its trees. How far will it go to save them?

A new ordinance to protect Atlanta's trees could soon reach City Council for a vote, but it's not clear if key provisions will make it in.

Training center opponents vow to complicate 2025 city elections

Opponents of the law enforcement training center, known to some as "Cop City," told the AJC they promise to be a thorn in the side for Mayor Andre Dickens as he campaigns.

Watch out, spring breakers: Friday could break records at the Atlanta airport

TSA estimates Friday, April 4 is projected to see a record-breaking 115,000 Atlanta security screenings.