Panel to review Ellis case can expect a fight | www.myajc.com

Early next week Gov. Nathan Deal will name the panel that must help decide whether DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis can stay in charge of Georgia’s third-largest county while he fights 14 felony charges.

With the governor’s stated reluctance to step into local matters and the CEO’s muscular defense, the coming hearing looks to be Ellis’ first big public effort to fight back. The early impression of many that he would soon be out now seems less clear.

The panel will consist of Olens and two of Ellis’ “peers,” likely mayors from consolidated city-county governments such as Athens-Clarke or Columbus-Muscogee. If the committee finds the indictment will affect Ellis’ ability to do his job, Deal will decide whether to suspend him.

Deal has been loath to take on similar cases, despite intervening in the DeKalb school board. Earlier this year, the governor declined to review suspending Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill, saying voters there put Hill in office well aware of the 32 felony charges against him.

More recently, he avoided having to remove Atlanta state Rep. Tyrone Brooks when a peer panel found the 30-count indictment alleging mail, tax and wire fraud does not affect Brooks’ ability to serve his district.

via Panel to review Ellis case can expect a fight | www.myajc.com.