Fulton election chief in jail

Probation revoked in ’09 DUI; officials consider next step.

Fulton County’s elections chief was jailed after his probation for a 2009 DUI was revoked, officials said Wednesday.

Samuel Westmoreland, the county registration and elections director who came under fire recently over errors in his department’s handling of the July primary, was booked into the Fulton County jail on Friday on charges that he was driving under the influence of alcohol, according to jail records.

Westmoreland’s probation is being revoked, Fulton County State Court officials said on Wednesday.

Alpharetta police spokesman George Gordon confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Westmoreland was in jail, and said he is scheduled to be released Sept. 24.

It was unclear late Wednesday if Westmoreland was arrested on new DUI charges or if he violated his probation in some other manner.

Judicial Correction Services Inc., the agency managing Westmoreland’s probation, refused to discuss why the Alpharetta attorney is back in jail, citing confidentiality concerns.

Westmoreland, 43, was arrested Dec. 23, 2009, in Alpharetta after failing a sobriety test and was charged with DUI, failure to maintain lanes and driving with an expired tag, according to police reports.

Westmoreland pleaded no contest last year and received 12 months of probation, 40 hours of community service and $800 in fines and fees.

A member of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections since 2004 and a two-time board chair, Westmoreland was appointed interim elections director in July 2011 and permanently took over in March.

His management of the department has garnered criticism, and his jail stint comes amid worries that his department won’t be capable of handling the November election.

It is unclear how the probation revocation will affect Westmoreland’s position. Elections board Chairman Roderick Edmond said there will be a special meeting called on Friday or Monday, and “we’re going to take immediate action.”

Edmond said consultants are being sought to help in November.