Local

DeKalb commissioner accused of paying boyfriend taxpayer money for consulting business

Documents indicate DeKalb County taxpayers paid a commissioner's boyfriend tens of thousands of dollars for his consulting services.
Sharon Barnes Sutton is a commissioner for District 4.
Channel 2 Action News and the Atlanta Journal Constitution secured documents which show Warren Mosby received more than $34,000.
Channel 2's Erica Byfield asked Barnes Sutton via phone on Wednesday if she and Mosby had a personal relationship.
“That does not matter because I have not broken any laws or violated any county policies," said Barnes Sutton.
In recent years Barnes Sutton referred to Mosby as her campaign manager.
A police report from February indicates a much closer relationship.  Following a domestic dispute at Mosby's home the commissioner told an officer they had been in a relationship for seven years.
County invoices show Mosby received money through two businesses: HSI Systems and Consultants and Righthink Associates.  
Barnes Sutton said that Mosby deserved the money because among other things, he helped with her transition into office, drafted business cards and letters, and organized community service.
DeKalb County Acting Purchasing Director Scott Callan spoke to Byfield about the county's stance on consulting.
"CEO May's current policy does not dictate any specific cans or cannot in terms of who can be a consultant for the county," said Callan.
Byfield left a message for Mosby.
Channel 2 Action News and the Atlanta Journal Constitution asked for proof that Mosby did the work taxpayers paid for.
The commissioner pointed us to several invoices.  The only hard evidence she provided was an eight-page document outlining work Mosby did in 2010 in reference to a serial rapist in Stone Mountain.
Callan said as of July, providing the county with worth product is one of three options consultants have.
"(The new policy) does speak to being able to provide viable service, viable work product or a viable good," he said.
Invoices show Mosby has worked for other elected officials in the county.  He provided business cards and printing services for the current and former district attorneys.

WSBTV

Most Read