Three candidates have qualified to become the next DeKalb County CEO as current leader Michael Thurmond’s tenure ends.
Thurmond, elected in 2016, has reached his term limit so a new CEO will be chosen during the Nov. 5 general election. The three candidates who qualified to fill the vacancy are familiar names.
District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, District 7 Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, and District 3 Larry Johnson are running for DeKalb’s highest office.
Bradshaw has served on the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners since 2017. He is the former presiding officer of the Board of Commissioners. Since announcing his candidacy for CEO, Bradshaw has raised over $300,000.
Bradshaw said he wants to build on the progress that has been made since 2017.
“I intend to take my message to every corner of DeKalb County as we fight to make our community safer, cleaner, business friendlier and more inclusive,” said Bradshaw, who is being endorsed by State Sen. Elena Parent and DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston among others.
Cochran-Johnson was elected in 2018. She held a March 7 press conference at her campaign headquarters on Memorial Drive.
Cochran-Johnson said she will bring “spirit and energy” to the CEO’s office.
“We have become too accustomed to the status quo in DeKalb. We’ve been conditioned to accept good enough. We have too many great people, too many resources, and too much talent in this county for that to be the way. This campaign isn’t going to be business as usual. This is about bringing a new vision, new ambition, and
new vitality to DeKalb County,” she said.
Johnson has served as a DeKalb County commissioner since 2002. At age 33, he became one of the youngest commissioners ever elected to serve on the Board of Commissioners.
Johnson has earned the endorsement of Stacey Abrams, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and former State Senator Jason…
Read the full article here
