Lorraine Cochran-Johnson elected as next DeKalb County CEO

DeKalb Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson watches line dancers perform during the DeKalb County Senior Olympic Games opening ceremony at the Exchange Park Intergenerational Center on Columbia Drive in Greater Decatur on Monday, May 1, 2023. (Dean Hesse)

The LCJ-era in DeKalb County officially began on Tuesday as Lorraine Cochran-Johnson prevailed in the DeKalb County CEO race.

Cochran-Johnson is the first Black woman elected as CEO in the county’s history. She will take office in January, replacing current CEO Mike Thurmond, who is term-limited.

While Larry Johnson racked up numerous endorsements, Cochran-Johnson’s personal style, including being responsive to people who contacted her and building upon her personal relationships with voters, gave her an edge, she said.