The Board is charged with interpreting the Code of Ethics adopted by the county, applying sanctions to those in violation of the Code, and issuing advisory opinions defining appropriate behaviors according to community standards, as reflected in that Code.  When complaints of ethics violations are registered against the CEO, Commissioners or other county employees or appointees over whom the Board of Ethics has jurisdiction, the matter is addressed by conducting hearings on the complaints.  The newly appointed members will each serve a seven year term. 

“I welcome the expertise Bobbie Kennedy Sanford and Isaac Blythers bring to the Board of Ethics.  Their service, along with the service of the current members, will assure that accountability in county government is upheld in DeKalb,” Ellis said.

Sanford is a long-standing resident of DeKalb County. She and her late husband, Commissioner Porter Sanford, III founded Sanford Realty, the first minority-owned real estate company in DeKalb in 1965. Sanford is currently the broker of Coldwell Banker Sanford Realty Company, Inc. She has received numerous awards and recognitions from  business and civic organizations. Sanford, who served on Ellis transition team, has held a number of positions with community organizations including being a charter member of Leadership DeKalb, a founding member of 100 Black Women of DeKalb and founding member and past president of Stone Mountain Jack and Jill of America.

Isaac Blythers is the former President of Atlanta Gas Light Company & Chattanooga Gas Company, where he was responsible for the regulated utility operations serving 280 communities and 1.5 million customers in Georgia and Tennessee.  His current civic and community involvement includes serving as a board member for 100 Black Men of Atlanta, board member of the Tubman African American Museum, life member of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, member of the Homelessness Taskforce of Metro Atlanta and volunteer with the Woodruff Arts Center Annual Campaign. He has received numerous honors professionally and for his work in the community.

On being appointed to the DeKalb County Board of Ethics, Isaac said: “Our form of government only works when our citizens are willing to participate by giving up their time.”

Blythers and Sanford are replacing Aubrey T. Villines, Esq. and Veronica Higgs Cope, Esq. On the Board of Ethics.