MONTICELLO, Ga. — Monticello council members have chosen a DeKalb County city administrator over two Newton County residents for the job of city manager.

City council members chose Lithonia City Administrator LaThaydra Sands over Newton County Commissioner Ronnie Cowan and Covington resident Brenda Jacobs for the job leading the Monticello government's day-to-day operations, two city officials confirmed.

Cowan, a resident of Social Circle, is an attorney and former Human Resources director for the city of Covington. He has represented District 5 on the Newton County Board of Commissioners since January 2017. 

Jacobs is a Covington resident and currently the director of the Jasper County Senior Center. 

Sands is a resident of Jasper County. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from University of Phoenix and has an accounting degree from Central Georgia Technical College.