Group pushes petition to recall maligned mayor
by Andy Phelan
andy@dekalbchamp.com
McKibben |
A group calling itself Citizens and Businesses for Better Government is pushing to recall much-maligned Lithonia Mayor Joyce McKibben.
It started the day McKibben was elected last November by a slim 76-74 margin, and trouble for the community activist hasn’t let up ever since.
First her residency was challenged, then the validity of her election win.
After a brief but shining coronation, McKibben began almost immediately to lock heads with some members of city council members and Police Chief Willie Rosser.
She tried to fire the chief for what she said was impropriety but it was overturned by the council, which at one point had the mayor’s associates arrested. Squabbles over payroll, business licenses and who has the power in Lithonia – the mayor or council – threatened to nearly shutdown this city of 2,000 people in southeast DeKalb.
“The mayor refuses to conduct city business,” said concert promoter Jason Lary, who is part of the recall group but does not live in the city. “Here we are in mid July, and we’re still waiting for our businesses licenses.”
McKibben said that’s patently false. Not only is it the city clerk who issues businesses licenses, she said, but Lithonia law says the licenses must be reviewed and approved by the mayor and/or city council.
“Besides, I’ve never even seen his business license application,” McKibben said. “I’ve never been asked to sign one.”
Plus, said McKibben, she’s had to operate out of a virtual office for months since the council and police denied her access to her city hall office.
McKibben and Lary got into a high-profile scrape last spring when state Sen. Ronald Ramsey claimed Lary had threatened McKibben’s life in a conversation the two had shortly after she was elected.
Magistrate Judge Glen Galbaugh dismissed the case in April, saying there was no evidence Lary ever threatened McKibben.
Lary, who was taking signatures for the recall at Lithonia Middle School on July 15, said he had about 175 signatures.
The group, which started July 11, needs 333 signatures from city residents in 30 days to complete the petition. At that point, county Elections Director Linda Latimore would certify the signatures and a new election would be held.
If recalled, McKibben could run for the seat again.
|
