The Voice Of Business In DeKalb County Since 1938

DeKalb County Government

DeKalb is the only county government in metropolitan Atlanta to have a Chief Executive Officer in addition to the Board of Commissioners.

The Reorganization Act of 1985 provides that the Board, comprised of one Commissioner for each of the county's five Districts and two Super Districts, set policy and appropriate funding for the county operations, and that the CEO, elected countywide, administers the day-to-day operations of the county government and manages its 7,000 employees. The CEO, limited to two consecutive four-year terms, presides over the twice-monthly meetings of the Board, but can only vote on business items in the event of a tie.

Burrell Ellis was elected Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, Georgia on November 4, 2008. He assumed office on January 5, 2009.

Prior to becoming CEO, Burrell served in the legislative branch of government for eight years as a DeKalb County Board of Commissioner. He served part of his tenure as the Presiding Officer of the Board and was responsible for key legislation pertaining to economic development and the preservation of property values.

As DeKalb County CEO, Burrell is responsible for administering the County’s $1.8 billion annual budget, managing its 7,500 employees and delivering services to its 729,000 residents.

CEO Ellis was a partner at the national law firm of EpsteinBeckerGreen, where he practiced in the firm’s Real Estate Group. He used his extensive experience to represent clients in connection with the acquisition, disposition and development of residential, office, retail, resort, and mixed-use projects.

In addition to his law practice, CEO Ellis taught courses at Georgia State University College of Law in negotiation and collaborative problem solving.

CEO Ellis has been a frequent panelist and lecturer on smart growth and urban development issues. He is an active participant in the Urban Land Institute (ULI), serving on ULI’s national Urban Development/Mixed-Use Council. He is also actively involved with the National Association of Counties (NACo), serving as Chair of NACo’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC). LUCC is a bipartisan coalition of elected county officials, representing the interests of the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas on Capitol Hill and before the White House.

CEO Ellis is an Ivy League graduate, holding a degree in economics and finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas. At the University of Texas, he was elected student body president of one of our nation’s largest and most prestigious law schools.

His community involvement is extensive, and his volunteer activities have included leadership roles in 100 Black Men of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, his church, and the Democratic Party.

Burrell is especially proud of being a husband and the father of two young children, Victoria and Burrell III. He and his wife, Philippa, live in Stone Mountain and attend St. Philip AME Church.

www.co.dekalb.ga.us

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