Clayton sheriff candidates hit the airwaves to debate

ATLANTA — Tuesday's runoff should settle one of the most unusual sheriff's elections in recent history. It's between Clayton County incumbent Kem Kimbrough and indicted former sheriff Victor Hill.

Hill's defense lawyer, Steve Frey, told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne the motion he filed late Friday alleges a lack of specifics in the Hill indictment about what's illegal in what he may have done.

"These are 37 false allegations placed on me by my political opponent," Hill said during a live debate Monday morning on W-103 F.M.

"A special grand jury heard all the evidence. (A) special grand jury says let's move forward with the indictment," Kimbrough rebutted.

The debate was refereed by Frank Ski.

"Clayton County is not a safe place to live," Hill said during the debate.

Kimbrough didn't agree.

"All categories of crime are down," Kimbrough responded.

On the same day of the debate, post cards were sent out, supporting Hill.

"I am a man who has made mistakes, owned up to them, learned from them," the card said. "You will get a more mature and wiser sheriff."

Attorney and Hill adviser Musa Ghanayem said in the postcard, Hill's referring to controversies involving employees and so on that punctuated his previous term.

"This is actually a letter from the heart, saying, 'I'm sorry, I've made mistakes, I've repented,'" Ghanayem said.

The message is consistent with Hill's strategy throughout this campaign.

Another document pertains directly to the indictment on racketeering, theft and other charges. It's a detailed motion asking a judge to dismiss all counts.

"You really think the judge will throw out the indictment?" Winne asked Frey.

"I hope he'll take a long look at it and see it for what we believe it is, and that's insufficient," Frey said.

Winne reached out to special prosecutor Layla Zon about the motion. She replied to him in a textmessage, saying, "I have not yet been served with a copy of the motion but will be prepared to argue the motion in court."

Kimbrough declined to go on camera about the postcard, but said Clayton County voters can't afford to take a chance on what the postcard promises.

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WSBTV