From the President: A Focus on DeKalb County

by Scott Bonder
President, DeKalb Bar Association

We are the DeKalb Bar Association, but rarely do we focus on our home county beyond the courts and networking. The last few years were rough for DeKalb County and the next few will likely still be bumpy. From indictments of school officials, to embezzlement among our elected officials, and the propagation of cities, DeKalb is changing. As lawyers with an interest in DeKalb County, we have a responsibility to be aware of the issues, to understand the basic law surrounding the issues, and to explain them to lay persons in an objective manner. Certainly, we have the right to advocate our positions, but that should be secondary to acting as credible resources for our neighbors.

Among the issues facing DeKalb County is the recent passage by the General Assembly of HB 597, which creates a new Board of Ethics for the county. Notably, if signed by the Governor, the ethics commission will consist of twelve DeKalb residents appointed by a variety of community organizations, including the DeKalb Bar Association. This will be an important function of the DeKalb Bar Association and demonstrates a significant public trust being vested in us to serve and help our community.

Additionally, cityhood and annexation issues abound this year. The details of the various proposals are both legally and politically complex. I encourage you to review the various proposals so that you can explain the issues to your neighbors. For example, HB 586 is the bill that would permit a referendum by residents on whether they wish to be annexed into the City of Atlanta. HB 520 would create the City of LaVista Hills and HB 515 would create the City of Tucker.

All of these bills pose serious questions and topics for debate among the citizens of DeKalb County. I encourage you as lawyers in the community to read the bills, understand the issues and help educate your neighbors.