| Elections in Georgia |
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The 2008 DeKalb County, Georgia Chief Executive Officer election took place on November 4, 2008. Incumbent CEO Vernon Jones was term limited and could not seek a third consecutive term, and unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate. In the Democratic primary to succeed Jones, County Commissioner Burrell Ellis; State Representative Stan Watson; Ann Kimbrough, Jones's Chief of Staff; former State Senator Steen Miles; and perennial candidate Joe Bembry all ran.
Ellis placed first in the primary with 46 percent of the vote, but did not win a majority, and advanced to a runoff election with Watson, who won 26 percent and placed second. In the runoff election, Ellis defeated Watson by a wide margin, winning 63 percent of the vote. Ellis faced no opponent in the general election and won his first term unopposed.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Burrell Ellis, County Commissioner[1]
- Stan Watson, State Representative[2]
- Ann Kimbrough, Chief of Staff to CEO Vernon Jones[3]
- Steen Miles, former State Senator[4]
- Joe Bembry, perennial candidate[5]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Burrell Ellis | 31,379 | 45.84% | |
| Democratic | Stan Watson | 17,872 | 26.11% | |
| Democratic | Ann Kimbrough | 9,325 | 13.62% | |
| Democratic | Steen Miles | 6,458 | 9.43% | |
| Democratic | Joe Bembry | 3,422 | 5.00% | |
| Total votes | 68,456 | 100.00% | ||
Runoff results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Burrell Ellis | 38,775 | 62.56% | |
| Democratic | Stan Watson | 23,208 | 37.44% | |
| Total votes | 61,983 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Burrell Ellis | 263,114 | 99.48% | |
| Write-in | 1,372 | 0.52% | ||
| Total votes | 264,486 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
- ↑ "Commissioner seeks CEO position". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. January 15, 2008. p. B4. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ↑ Tagami, Ty (May 22, 2007). "Legislator wants to fill Jones' shoes as DeKalb CEO". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. p. D4. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ↑ "CEO's staff chief will run for his job". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. April 26, 2008. p. B5. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ↑ Tagami, Ty (April 24, 2008). "Candidate says changes needed". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. p. JE7. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ↑ Tagami, Ty (May 8, 2008). "25 qualify for local posts in July primaries". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. p. JE11. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ↑ "DeKalb County - General Primary and Special Election - Official Election Summary - July 15, 2008" (PDF). DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections. July 18, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ↑ "DeKalb County - General Primary Runoff - Official Election Summary - August 5, 2008" (PDF). DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections. August 8, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ↑ "DeKalb County General and Special Election - Official Election Summary - November 4, 2008" (PDF). DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections. November 10, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2025.