What’s next for Fulton County? Mo Ivory reveals transition team, priorities

Fulton County Commission Chair-elect Mo Ivory is beginning the transition to her historic new administration, assembling a team of prominent government, business, legal and civic leaders to help tackle some of the county’s biggest challenges.

Ivory, elected last week as the first Black woman and first Latina to chair the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, announced her Fulton Together Transition Team on Monday.

“We made history together, electing the first Black woman and first Latina to lead this board,” Ivory said. “But making history alone is only the beginning. What matters now is what we do with this opportunity.”

Ivory said the transition will focus on four pillars: accountable government, safe and just Fulton, strong communities and One Fulton.

Among the challenges she identified are the Fulton County Jail, court operations, access to healthcare, county finances and protecting the integrity of elections.

“We know there are serious challenges ahead, including our jail, our courts, access to healthcare, financial accountability, and protecting the integrity of our elections,” Ivory said.

Shirley Franklin among leaders heading transition

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, former Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman and business and civic leader Munir Meghjani will serve as executive co-chairs of the transition.

Ivory also named leaders assigned to specific areas of county government, including former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton, who will lead the Public Safety and Justice team, and Ryan Wilson, co-founder and CEO of The Gathering Spot, who will focus on Small Business and Economic Development.

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Dr. Yolanda Wimberly of Grady Health System will lead Health and Community Services, while former state Sen. Jason Esteves will lead Operations and Management.

Over the coming weeks, the group will review county operations and finances, identify immediate and long-term priorities and recommend steps Ivory’s administration can begin taking when she assumes office in January.

What’s next for the Fulton County Jail?

One of the first major questions facing the incoming administration is the future of the troubled Fulton County Jail.

Asked about the county’s acquisition of the Atlanta City Detention Center, or ACDC, Ivory said the purchase gives county leaders another option for addressing overcrowding.

“That purchase will close in December, which gives us a very strong path ahead to figuring out our jail overpopulation problem,” Ivory said.

She said the acquisition is particularly important as the county works to meet its obligations under a federal consent decree.

But Ivory stopped short of saying exactly how the detention center will fit into the county’s long-term plans.

She noted that five new members are coming onto the commission, a group she jokingly calls the “Fab 5,” and said those commissioners should have a voice in deciding what comes next.

“I think it’s a little bit premature to say exactly what’s going to happen,” she said.

‘It’s a new day’

Ivory also signaled that she wants to build a different relationship between Fulton County and state government.

“It’s a new Fulton County. It’s a new state of Georgia,” she said.

Ivory said she looks forward to working with the governor-elect, whom she said she has known for years, on issues important to both the county and state.

Her transition team will also focus on improving relationships among Fulton County’s 15 municipalities and ensuring residents in North, Central and South Fulton have a voice in county government.

Although she was elected as a Democrat, Ivory said her administration will represent the entire county.

“I will govern for every resident of Fulton County, whether you voted for me or not,” she said. “North Fulton, Central Fulton, South Fulton, one county, working together.”