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Corruption report scrutinizes payments to Decatur High boosters, DeKalb Historical Society

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Corruption report scrutinizes payments to Decatur High boosters, DeKalb Historical Society

DeKalb County Georgia. Source: Google Maps.
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DeKalb County Georgia. Source: Google Maps.

DeKalb County Georgia. Source: Google Maps.

This story has been updated. 

A sweeping report into corruption in DeKalb County leaves no part of the county unscathed.

The report questions donations of taxpayer money made by County Commissioners Jeff Rader and Kathie Gannon to local civic organizations. The DeKalb History Center and Decatur Bulldog Boosters received thousands in taxpayer money from the commissioners, the report released by former state attorney general Mike Bowers says.

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The expenditures by Rader and Gannon were noted by the investigators questioning whether the gifts violated the Gratuities Clause of the Georgia Constitution, which forbids gifting of taxpayer money.

The brunt of the investigation focuses on the actions of interim Chief Executive Officer Lee May and calls on him to resign his office and allow for a special election. The report accuses May of borrowing money from a subordinate, Morris Williams, in violation of the county organizational act. It also says May tried to hinder and shut-down Bowers’ investigation after hiring him to help root out corruption in county government.

May called the report “laughable,” according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

According to report, Rader contributed $950 to the Decatur Bulldogs Booster Club from 2009 to 2013, and gave over $6,000 to the DeKalb Historical Society. He also gave $1,050 to the Druid Hills Athletic Foundation from 2009 to 2013. Gannon provided $950 to the Bulldogs Booster Club between 2009 and 2013 and gave $3,000 to the DeKalb Historical Society in 2011, the report says. She gave the Druid Hills High School Foundation $1,800, the report says.

Here is the full report, provided to Decaturish by WABE:

DeKalbReport

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