Ernst Becomes Brookhaven Mayor in a Landslide

John Ernst handily defeated Dale Boone to win election as Brookhaven’s third mayor in history.

District 1 city councilwoman Linley Jones also won election to her first full term on the city council.

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DeKalb voters also overwhelmingly approved an overhaul of the county’s ethics regulations, while Tucker voters chose to become DeKalb’s newest city.

And a bid to create what would have become DeKalb’s largest city, Lavista Hills, fell short.

Analysis

Ernst was well financed; his war chest of more than $50,000 dwarfed that of the other candidate, Dale Boone’s, of $4,000, according to figures from the Reporter Newspapers.

Ernst also had major name recognition from his tenure as head of the DeKalb Ethics Board. Ernst resigned that position after the board failed to enact any significant punishments on Commissioner Stan Watson after he was found guilty of three ethics violations, reports WABE.

Ernst also picked up significant endorsements from several local officials, including DeKalb District 1 commissioner Nancy Jester and Brookhaven city councilman John Park, whose district 2 is home to several neighborhoods that were opposed to whole cityhood movement several years ago.

For his part, Boone failed to pick up any endorsements and has not engaged in any campaign mailings. His only name recognition came from his days as a so-called “professional eater,” a celebrity status that has seemingly not carried over into this political campaign.

Jones was appointed by Williams to fill out her unexpired District 1 term after Williams assumed the big chair from former mayor J. Max Davis. Jones was heavily involved in the Brookhaven cityhood movement, and has the support of Williams, who remains popular in the district.

She handily beat back a challenge from Eve Erdogan. Like the mayor’s race, there is a vast gap between the fundraising efforts of the two candidates. Jones has raised more than $42,000, dwarfing Erdogan’s $8,000.