DeKalb Ethics Board filled out amid inquiries | www.myajc.com

DeKalb County CEO Lee May restored the county Board of Ethics to full strength Friday, replacing an inactive member as the board investigates several complaints against county commissioners and employees.

May appointed Robert Blackman, a Vietnam War veteran and a member of the county Code Enforcement Advisory Committee, to replace board member Isaac Blythers, whose term expired Dec. 31.

Blackman’s addition to the board gives it another potential vote as it decides whether to take action on pending cases involving three commissioners, several employees and former DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, who faces trial in September on charges that he strong-armed county vendors into giving campaign contributions.

The seven-member Ethics Board needs five votes to reprimand, suspend or remove officials from office.

Ethics cases are pending against Commissioners Elaine Boyer, Larry Johnson and Sharon Barnes Sutton based on complaints that they used their county purchasing cards to buy personal items.

via DeKalb Ethics Board filled out amid inquiries | www.myajc.com.