The Lilburn Community Improvement District has chosen a new executive director: prominent businessman Tad Leithead, who left a similar position in Cobb County following a DUI arrest earlier this year.

The Lilburn CID — a public, self-taxing business district that uses its funds to pay for infrastructure and security improvements in the area — announced Leithead's appointment on Thursday. He will take over July 1, officials said, replacing outgoing executive director Emory Morsberger.

Morsberger is leaving to take the helm at the Gateway 85 CID, which covers much of the I-85 corridor in southwest Gwinnett.

“I could not be leaving the [Lilburn] CID in better hands than with Tad Leithead,” Morsberger said in a news release. “We have known each other for years and I have the utmost confidence that he will continue the incredible work LCID has accomplished thus far.”

Leithead's most recent public position was at the Cumberland CID in Cobb County, where he served on the board for nearly three decades before taking over as executive director. He served in that role for about six months before tendering his resignation at the end of January.

A few weeks prior, Leithead had been arrested in Forsyth County on driving under the influence charges.

According to an incident report detailing the Jan. 6 arrest, authorities responded to a call about a driver parked in the middle of the road and sitting outside his vehicle. The driver, later identified as Leithead, then climbed back in and drove to a nearby parking lot before being questioned by sheriff’s deputies.

Leithead reportedly failed roadside sobriety and breathalyzer tests and had a blood alcohol content around 0.18 — more than twice the legal limit — when tested at the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

The status of Leithead’s case was not immediately clear Thursday afternoon.

“The fact that I was selected as the new executive director for Lilburn CID means a great deal to me,” Leithead said in the news release announcing his new position. “A chance to grow this CID will be both exciting and a great challenge. I look forward continuing in Emory’s footsteps in leading the CID into the future.”

Properties within the Lilburn CID represent about $123 million in commercial value, according to its website. The CID — which covers the U.S 29 corridor between Ronald Reagan Parkway and Harmony Grove Road — yields approximately $250,000 in self-generated tax revenue each year.

A spokeswoman said the CID received “between six and 10” applications for the position that was awarded to Leithead.

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