Interim DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond speaks at the Brookhaven
City Council’s March 26, 2013 meeting at PATH Academy. File photo obtained via Reporter Newspapers

Former DeKalb Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond is kicking off his campaign for the post of county CEO on Saturday, Feb. 20.

A Facebook event invite says, “It’s time for a new day in DeKalb County. Join me for a community rally as I kickoff my campaign to be your next DeKalb CEO. I want to hear from you, the citizens of DeKalb. Bring your family, friends, neighbors and kids. Together, we can unite our county and restore trust and integrity in our government.”

The kick-off and rally begin at 11 a.m. at the Comfort Suites Northlake at 2060 Crescent Centre Blvd, Tucker, Georgia.

“We need to restore confidence in DeKalb County government, and I trust my candidacy will be a step forward in uniting and strengthening our county,” Thurmond said in a press release issued Feb. 16.

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Thurmond said his experience with DeKalb’s schools proved he can restore confidence in a government divided politically and with a reputation damaged by scandal. “No doubt we have the skill sets needed to change the direction of the county,” he said in a phone interview Feb. 16.

Some state lawmakers have been advocating eliminating the DeKalb County CEO post. Thurmond said current legislation would not do away with the position before 2020.

Parts of this story were provided courtesy of Reporter Newspapers.