DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May Pressured Into Resigning Seat

May announced the resignation of his commission seat in a press conference on Friday morning, after telling WABE in March he had no plans to give up his seat.

May said he changed his mind after complaints from some of the constituents in his district about the lack of representation for such a long time.

Former County District Attorney Bob Wilson, A veteran of DeKalb County politics and legal affairs, said on “A Closer Look” he believes May’s decision was more complicated than that, but that it all boiled down to politics.

“When the appointment was made of Lee May to serve as interim CEO, he … had in that position a certain uncertainty and that is, if Burrell Ellis is found not guilty, Lee May will have to step aside and Burrell Ellis will come back,” Wilson said.

“He certainly wanted the solid ground of his commission seat to step back into because it’s very clear he wants to run for CEO and be elected in his own right. So he wanted that position to go back to,” Wilson added.

May has been interim CEO for nearly two years now, since CEO Burrell Ellis was indicted on corruption charges.  Ellis’ first trial ended with a hung jury. His second trial is scheduled to get underway soon. 

Wilson provided more analysis of May’s decision on “A Closer Look.”

WABE’s Rose Scott and Denis O’Hayer contributed to this story.