I’m a couple days late with this, as many other DeKalb blogs have already posted it, but due to its importance I’ll still follow through.

If you had wandered up to the Square last week, you may have thought you spotted protesters in front of the Old Courthouse. While you thought to yourself “what the heck are they protesting now?” you might have realized that they were actually supporters of the democratic candidates for DeKalb CEO, chanting the rallying cries of their candidate of choice, who were currently debating inside our esteemed Courthouse. Then, if you were like me, you would have quickly crossed to the other side of the road, for fear of them trying to engage you in some conversation about DeKalb County government. (I decided if approached I would just start yelling something about HOST taxes and scare them away)

So, why am I bringing all of this up post-debate?

Because Decatur resident Rusty Tanton has made the whole darn thing accessible online by posting each posed question individually on YouTube. So below you will find the opening statements video. The subsequent nine questions with the corresponding video will be located in the continuation.

Thanks for doing the footwork Rusty!

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Walk on up to the courthouse tomorrow if you’re itchin’ to ask any of the DeKalb CEO candidates a question. Perhaps something along the lines of “Why does the county refuse to give its cities its fair share of HOST taxes?”

From a DeKalb History Center Press Release…

The Champion Newspaper and the DeKalb History Center are hosting a DeKalb CEO Candidates Forum on Thursday, June 26. The forum is scheduled to take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the historic DeKalb County Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square in Decatur.

All candidates vying for the CEO position-Joe Bembry, county Commissioner Burrell Ellis, former state Sen. Steen Miles, state Rep. Stan Watson and Ann Kimbrough, chief of staff to the current CEO-have confirmed their intention to participate.

Candidates will be given the opportunity to make brief opening statements followed by a series of questions-some provided by the audience. The forum will be moderated by Gale Horton Gay, Managing Editor of ACE III Communications, Inc., publishers of The Champion.