DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond delivers final State of the County address

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond delivered his final State of the County address on Thursday.

It was his eighth State of the County speech. Thurmond, who has been DeKalb County’s chief executive officer since 2017, is not eligible for re-election but hinted his storied political career may not be over yet.

After thanking a long list of partners and his family, Thurmond, an attorney who previously served in the Georgia General Assembly and as the state’s labor commissioner, told the crowd that while he can’t run for DeKalb CEO again because of term limits, “I may need your vote” even still.

Thurmond has not-so-quietly been considered a viable Democratic candidate for governor in 2026 when the office comes up for election.

“I have no idea,” said Thurmond, chuckling, when asked what was next in his political career. “But I’m going to take some time to reflect, to think about the future, and if there might be some way for me to serve going forward, I’ll entertain it. But at this point, my number one priority is to finish this job strong.”

Thurmond was well-liked in DeKalb, serving two consecutive terms and helping to turn the county’s school system around while raising the county’s federal bond rating. Three candidates — DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw and former commissioners Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Larry Johnson — have all worked with Thurmond in the past.

The topic for this year’s address was “lessons learned” and featured a reflection on his administration.

“We have to continue to build partnerships, to work across the geographic and political lines, to do what’s best for DeKalb,” Thurmond said, speaking to media after his address. “DeKalb is one of the most diverse counties in America. You have to be intentional and purposeful ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table.”

During his swearing-in, Thurmond said he wanted to focus his tenure on restoring trust in county government and enhancing operations of complex organizations.

Now, years later, Thurmond says he isn’t done yet. He still wants to secure funding for the county’s only source of fresh water, the Scott Candler water treatment plant. Thurmond said upgrades to the facility were “about 40 years overdue.”

He also wants to streamline the county’s ambulance services and wrap up some county beautification projects, especially along I-20.

WATCH: DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond’s State of the County address

Thursday’s event addressed county businesses and featured remarks from President & CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Frankie Atwater, Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, Presiding Officer of DeKalb County Commissioners and Doraville Mayor Pro Tem Gerald Evans, Council’s President & CEO Michael E. Paris, and others.

“DeKalb County continues to be a thriving place for businesses and residents alike,” said Michael Paris, president & CEO of the Council for Quality Growth. “We’re excited to showcase the newest economic engine here in DeKalb for CEO Thurmond’s outgoing address. The Council commends the leadership of Michael Thurmond during his tenure as CEO and looks forward to celebrating his successes alongside the promising future in DeKalb.”

Thurmond hasn’t yet said who he wants as his replacement. It will be up to DeKalb County voters to decide. Early voting began on Monday.

Atlanta News First and Decaturish asked the three CEO hopefuls about a wide range of topics submitted directly by DeKalb County citizens.

WATCH THE FULL DEKALB COUNTY CEO CANDIDATE FORUM HERE:

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