Bid rigging and kickbacks?
I’m sure that’s only in Atlanta….
Anyway, it turns out it’s not so much

DeKalb County that’s a slum
as the county government.

Somebody at AJC wrote yesterday,

DeKalb to review government restructuring,

A day after a yearlong investigation into DeKalb contracting was
made public — a report that detailed a culture of corruption
that permeates county government — DeKalb commissioners say
they will review how the county is governed and seek changes.

A special purpose grand jury investigating contracting in DeKalb’s
water department recommended the county get rid of its CEO form of
government. DeKalb is almost singular in the authority it gives its
CEO, a countywide elected official who runs the day-to-day
operations of Georgia’s third-largest county.

That authority, according to the report, was used to steer tens of
millions of dollars in contracts to favored vendors. Suspended
DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis has been charged with extortion for
allegedly strongarming vendors into donating to his campaign.

Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May said the county will review its governing
structure over the next 30 days and propose some recommendations on
how to improve operations, especially contracting.

WSBTV reported Wednesday,

DeKalb special grand jury recommends 12 for criminal investigation:
Key county officials include former CEO and public safety director.

CBS Atlanta wrote 17 July 2013,

Governor Deal Suspends Dekalb County CEO Burrell Ellis,

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has announced he’ll suspend indicted DeKalb
County CEO Burrell Ellis.

The announcement at the state Capitol during a press conference
Tuesday afternoon came a day after a three-person panel voted
unanimously to recommend suspension for Ellis.

A 15-count grand jury indictment charges Ellis with trying to extort
campaign contributions from companies and their employees.
Prosecutors allege Ellis instructed the county’s director of
purchasing and contracting to prevent some companies from getting
business because they didn’t contribute to his campaign.

Jonathan Cribbs wrote for the AJC yesterday,

DeKalb CEO: County Government Better for Druid Hills:
The interim DeKalb County CEO pleaded Tuesday with residents of the community not to create a new city or seek annexation into Atlanta.

Maybe there are consequences for corruption, and not just for the individuals
directly involved.

-jsq