Page 61 - DeKalb Bicentennial Flipbook

DeKalb County CEOs

LEE MAY VERNON JONES

Interim CEO 2013-2017 2001-2009
In a role for four years Vernon Jones
that was never considered entered political life in
permanent when he was 1992, representing Georgia
appointed by Gov. Nathan House District 57. He
Deal, Lee May is known won the DeKalb County
CEO race in 2000. In the
for lowering property
first months as CEO,
tax rates, reducing litter, Jones started with a
and raising government $125 million bond
employee wages when the referendum to buy green
county was in crisis. space and improve county parks, which voters approved.
Before May became the county’s CEO, he was a 38-year- He served two terms as CEO, where he managed a
old commissioner representing southeast DeKalb. He’s now $3.2 billion budget and a 7,000+ member workforce. He
known as Pastor Lee, presiding over the Transforming Faith increased funding for roads, parks, and libraries within a
Church he and his wife founded. May is a graduate of Emory balanced budget.
University’s Candler School of Theology.

LIANE LEVETAN

1993-2000
BURRELL ELLIS As the first woman
elected as chief executive
2009-2013
officer of DeKalb
During his first year in County, Liane Levetan
office, Ellis implemented was responsible for
a major restructuring the operation of a

of government by government that served
more than 600,000
grouping departments
citizens and an annual
by function into the
budget of more than
following operating $800 million. Her political career started earlier: In 1975,
units: development, Levetan became the first woman elected to the DeKalb
infrastructure, public County Board of Commissioners.
safety, and administration. He cut government spending. His She was a teacher for intellectually disabled children and

legislative accomplishments include authoring the county’s later a real estate broker. She is known for advancing senior
care initiatives and tax investments.
innovative Local Small Business Enterprise Ordinance and
The prestigious All-America City Award in 1998 was
championing Georgia’s first comprehensive Clean Indoor Air
awarded by the National Civic League to honor her leadership
Ordinance to protect the health of citizens from second-hand in collaborations between public and private sectors. Levetan
smoke. Following politics, Ellis was the political director for then served as a state senator from 2002 to 2004 and she
ACLU of Georgia for several years. remains engaged in public service.

Sp i rit o f D eK alb – B i centen n ial 1822-2022 59