The Fulton County Board of Commissioners last week got a new face on its dais — but these days, its a Zoom screen.
Khadijah Abdur-Rahman has been sworn as the county commissioner representing district 6, which covers the southernmost part of Fulton. Incumbent commissioners Natalie Hall and Bob Ellis, both of whom faced challengers in November, were also sworn in. Hall’s district 4 is almost entirely the city of Atlanta, and Ellis in district 6 represents the northernmost part of the county.
Abdur-Rahman beat Joe Carn, a former College Park councilman. They were two of the nine people who ran in 2019 to fill the seat left open following the death of longtime county commissioner Emma Darnell.
Abdur-Rahman — like Carn — is a Democrat, so her victory does not change the partisan divide of the majority-Democrat board.
The even-numbered commission districts were up for election in 2020. Commissioners in odd-numbered districts end their terms in 2022. All carry four-year terms.
Their oaths and other ceremonies were done either privately or virtually because of COVID-19, which also why commissioners have been meeting over Zoom.
The county posted a video on its YouTube that included comments from all three of the commissioners.
“Due to COVID-19, the challenges are great. But I know Fulton County is going to lead the challenge and do a great job of keeping us a great county people know us to be,” said Hall, who was first elected in 2014.
Ellis said he will continue to focus on fiscal responsibility and expanding the county’s behavioral health program.
“This has been a great 6 years … but there’s still a lot more work to do,” he said.
Abdur-Rahman, a community advocate, said she’s looking to keep the county’s momentum going.
“2021 is here, let’s leave 2020 in the background. And let’s move forward and count the blessings that we do have,” she said.
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