Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory resigned on March 6 from the District 4 seat after 14 months, allowing her to raise funds for the Democratic Party’s primary for countywide chair.
Ivory is facing Chair Robb Pitts and District 5 Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. in the May 19 primary.
Fulton County is governed by a seven-member board of commissioners, elected to four-year terms. Six of the members are district commissioners.
The open District 4 seat
In a March 19 letter, Pitts said the resignation sets up a special election in November to fill the vacant District 4 seat, which will remain under his purview until then.
“Please be assured that District 4 will continue to be served and supported with the utmost attention, intention, care, and responsiveness,” Pitts wrote in his letter. “As always Fulton County welcomes your continued feedback and seeks to remain engaged, whether through future public hearings or by direct communication to my office.”
Kysha Ferguson, the director of constituent services and strategic partnerships for Ivory in District 4, will continue in her role during the transition, according to the county.
Before Pitts sent his letter, Ivory spoke about the decision on her Instagram page after criticism from her opponent, Arrington Jr.
“State law required me to step down from my seat, but the work has not stopped,” Ivory wrote on Instagram. “I stepped up to run for chair of Fulton County because the challenges we face, the jail, healthcare gaps, the courts, and how we manage our budget, are countywide issues, not just District 4 issues.”
Rough Draft Atlanta has reached out to Ivory and her team for further comment.