It's official. DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones is going to challenge Saxby Chambliss for his seat in the U.S. Senate.

Jones hosted a kickoff party at Manuel's Tavern, Atlanta's political watering hole, on Tuesday to announce his bid for the Georgia seat that comes up for election in 2008.

But before he did, he filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission on March 19 to run as a Democrat, and he stopped by Chambliss' office in Washington last week to put the senator on notice. Chambliss, a Republican and Iraqi war hawk, defeated Democrat and war hero Max Cleland in 2002. His six-year term expires in 2008.

Jones, who is limited by county ordinance to two terms as CEO, has been looking for his next step in politics. He touts DeKalb's Triple-A bond rating and its strides in amassing and preserving green space as reasons why he should go to Washington "to do for the country what we have done for the county."

The Vernon Jones for Georgia Committee has posted a billboard on Covington Highway near I-285 and in February, it hosted a $100-per-person fundraiser for him.

Political observers had speculated that Jones, who was a state representative from Lithonia before becoming CEO, would go after the 4th Congressional District seat held by former DeKalb County Commissioner Hank Johnson. The Senate seat spans the state. Political pundits think Jones' candidacy is a long shot since he is not widely known outside metro Atlanta.

County to hear results of LCI study

Residents and business owners along the Candler Road and Flat Shoals Parkway corridor will hear consultants explain their recommendations for Livable Centers Initiative Study for the area at two county public meetings this month.

On April 11 at 6:30 p.m., Pond and Company will present to the Planning Commission its plan that will map future land use development, civic amenities and transportation for the area, and to the county Board of Commissioners on April 24 at 10 a.m.

The Candler Road/Flat Shoals Livable Centers Initiative, which covers the area of Candler Road between I-20 and I-285, is funded by a $80,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission that the county matched with $20,000.

Meetings with the community have been under way since 2006.

During the community meetings, residents and business owners offered insight and information on their vision for future development for the Candler Road/Flat Shoals Parkway corridor.

Consultants analyzed the input, along with infrastructure and economic data, and presented the draft report to the community on March 15. The community's comments at that meeting were also incorporated in the final LCI report.

Both meetings will be at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive in downtown Decatur.

For more information, call Arthur Duncan at 404-371-2155.