C. Jack Ellis

Prior to taking office, Ellis served 20 years in the United States Army as a paratrooper, then served two years in Vietnam as a combat soldier. Upon retirement from the U.S. Army, Ellis managed a used car business, served as an executive for the United States Census Bureau, and hosted a public access television show focusing on public and political affairs in the black community.[1]

Early in 2007, Ellis announced that he had become a Sunni Muslim during a ceremony in Senegal, and was seeking to change his legal name to Hakim Mansour Ellis.[8] During a forum in the 2011 campaign, Ellis refused to comment on this topic, except to say that he was a member of Unionville Missionary Baptist Church.[9]

In August 2007, C. Jack Ellis sent a letter of solidarity to Hugo Chávez, socialist President of Venezuela and vocal ally of Iran and Cuba. Public reaction in and around Macon was largely negative, with some residents calling for demonstrations and boycotts. Ellis maintained that the declaration was about Chávez's humanitarian efforts, not his political policies.[1][10][11]

On April 2, 2008, Macon mayor Robert Reichert received a letter from U.S. Attorney Max Wood accusing the City of Macon, under the Ellis administration, of misusing federal funds and making false statements to government officials. The accusation was in regard to the $900,000 "Safe Schools Initiative grant" given to the city in 2002. The government could also demand that much of the grant money be returned, as well as impose a civil penalty, which the letter stated could be in excess of one million dollars. Ellis stated his confidence that the city had correctly spent the money, and that no wrongdoing had occurred. No criminal charges have been filed.[12]