DeKalb CEO candidate blames opponent for late-night calls

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A candidate running for Dekalb CEO said he received backlash for late-night political campaign calls that he did not authorize.

"These calls did not come from our campaign," said Jerome Edmondson.

Edmondson, a Democratic candidate who is running against incumbent CEO Burrell Ellis, said he believes someone re-recorded an endorsement message he sent out to voters last week, attached it to another number and then sent automated calls to homes late Saturday night and early Sunday.

Several recipients of the robocalls left angry messages on the candidate's answering machine.

"Don't ever robocall me at 1 a.m. again. You'll never get my vote," said the caller.

Edmondson said he returned calls and messages from about a dozen people who received the call and explained that he was not responsible.

"If someone called me that late at night, I would be absolutely furious. We were able to talk with all of them and regain their trust, all of them," said Edmondson.

The candidate accused Ellis' re-election campaign of being behind the late-night calls. The manager of the Ellis campaign told Channel 2's Tom Regan the accusation was false and that Ellis was running on his record of creating jobs, restoring neighborhoods and promoting schools.

"Any accusation that our campaign would send or authorize recorded calls endorsing an opponent is not only false but ridiculous," said campaign manager Will Sellers.

WSBTV