City of South Fulton

Bill has a bachelor's degree in business from Morehouse College and a law degree from the Atlanta School of Law. He has lived in South Fulton for more than 30 years. He has three adult children and seven grandchildren. He attends Cascade United Methodist Church.

Bill operated the Edwards Agency, an independent representative of Allstate Insurance on Old National Highway, for nearly 40 years.

William "Bill" Edwards is currently mayor of South Fulton. He was elected in 2017 and is South Fulton's first mayor. He was previously the District 7 commissioner on the Fulton County Commission and was the commission's vice chair for four terms.

11 Alive

Supports the city's Fight Against Blight program that is spending $200,000 to demolish abandoned and dilapidated properties around the city.

Promises to "work to ensure that we provide safe and vibrant communities for residents to thrive."

Wants to increase economic development to create jobs, diversify industry, expand businesses, increase tax revenue and improve resident quality of life.

- Supports the city's Fight Against Blight program that is spending $200,000 to demolish abandoned and dilapidated properties around the city.
- Promises to "work to ensure that we provide safe and vibrant communities for residents to thrive." 
- Wants to increase economic development to create jobs, diversify industry, expand businesses, increase tax revenue and improve resident quality of life.

Public Services

Fox 5

Wants to make sure that testing and vaccination sites are readily available throughout the city, reopen businesses safely and look for more funding for COVID response and relief.

As mayor, he supported an emergency mask ordinance in August 2020, requiring everyone regardless of vaccination status to wear masks in public spaces. He said, "wear your masks a little bit longer. Please get vaccinated if you have not done so already." Violating the ordinance a first time is a $25 fine and $50 for each additional violation.

As mayor, he joined a lawsuit by almost every city in Fulton County to sue the county government to block it from spending any more of the $104 million received in federal COVID-19 relief funds so that the money could be given to individual cities.

- Wants to make sure that testing and vaccination sites are readily available throughout the city, reopen businesses safely and look for more funding for COVID response and relief. 
- As mayor, he supported an emergency mask ordinance in August 2020, requiring everyone regardless of vaccination status to wear masks in public spaces. He said, "wear your masks a little bit longer. Please get vaccinated if you have not done so already." Violating the ordinance a first time is a $25 fine and $50 for each additional violation.
- As mayor, he joined a lawsuit by almost every city in Fulton County to sue the county government to block it from spending any more of the $104 million received in federal COVID-19 relief funds so that the money could be given to individual cities.

COVID

As of November 10, 2021, William "Bill" Edwards’s website did not contain information on this issue.

City Budget

Wants to create building codes, permitting processes, property tax abatements and housing subsidies to provide quality housing.

Plans to work with private and nonprofit companies to improve housing.

- Wants to create building codes, permitting processes, property tax abatements and housing subsidies to provide quality housing. 
- Plans to work with private and nonprofit companies to improve housing.

Housing & Urban Development

CBS 46

Said, "I am aggressively pursuing a state-of-the art facility to house our Police, Fire and Judicial System."

Wants to "aggressively reduce crime," increase the number of police officers, make sure officers have the most up-to-date equipment, increase community policing and increase police salaries.

Plans to invest in new fire stations, updated equipment and higher salaries for firefighters.

As mayor, he supported re-activating city speed cameras inside school zones and re-implementing fines of $100 for speeding.

- Said, "I am aggressively pursuing a state-of-the art facility to house our Police, Fire and Judicial System." 
- Wants to "aggressively reduce crime," increase the number of police officers, make sure officers have the most up-to-date equipment, increase community policing and increase police salaries. 
- Plans to invest in new fire stations, updated equipment and higher salaries for firefighters. 
- As mayor, he supported re-activating city speed cameras inside school zones and re-implementing fines of $100 for speeding.

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Zoning

As mayor, he was sued by the city attorney, who claimed he created a bill with a state representative in order to fire her. He said, "we don't need this nonsense, and it's not going to stray us from being the city that we need to be."

As mayor, he and a city council member were accused by other city council members of neglecting their duties when they directed a development deal to Fulton County instead of the city but still used some of the city's taxes to support the deal. He was allowed to keep his seat when city council stopped the investigation and did not vote on removing him to office.

As county commissioner, nearly $80,000 in political donations disappeared from his campaign reports in 2010. He and his campaign treasurer provided bank statements that showed that "for years Edwards had tens of thousands of dollars less in the bank than he was reported having on hand in his official campaign disclosures. Edwards' records are also riddled with discrepancies, with expenditures reflected in his bank account but not on official campaign disclosures, and vice versa." A state audit was conducted and "found his financial records were such a mess it would not be practical to require him to file six years' worth of corrected campaign reports." Edwards eventually admitted to improperly spending $13,836 on memberships and other expenses at the Commerce Club in Atlanta and agreed to repay the amount to his campaign or donate the money to a charity. He also paid penalties and late fees of $2,175.

- As mayor, he was sued by the city attorney, who claimed he created a bill with a state representative in order to fire her. He said, "we don't need this nonsense, and it's not going to stray us from being the city that we need to be."
- As mayor, he and a city council member were accused by other city council members of neglecting their duties when they directed a development deal to Fulton County instead of the city but still used some of the city's taxes to support the deal. He was allowed to keep his seat when city council stopped the investigation and did not vote on removing him to office. 
- As county commissioner, nearly $80,000 in political donations disappeared from his campaign reports in 2010. He and his campaign treasurer provided bank statements that showed that "for years Edwards had tens of thousands of dollars less in the bank than he was reported having on hand in his official campaign disclosures. Edwards' records are also riddled with discrepancies, with expenditures reflected in his bank account but not on official campaign disclosures, and vice versa." A state audit was conducted and "found his financial records were such a mess it would not be practical to require him to file six years' worth of corrected campaign reports." Edwards eventually admitted to improperly spending $13,836 on memberships and other expenses at the Commerce Club in Atlanta and agreed to repay the amount to his campaign or donate the money to a charity. He also paid penalties and late fees of $2,175.

Corruption

William "Bill" Edwards

khalid was born and raised in South Fulton.  He attended Ithaca College in New York and John Marshall Law School. He was a member of a neighborhood planning unit and volunteered as a labor activist and campaign representative for Bernie Sanders, the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. He helped organize the Atlanta chapter of BlackLivesMatter and served as a Field Organizer for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus.

From 2015 to 2017, khalid helped his mother take care of an aunt dying from congestive failure. He previously worked as a bus driver for MARTA, an AT&T wire tech and a financial analyst and operations manager for nonprofits.

khalid kamau is currently the South Fulton city council member representing District 6. He was first elected in 2017 and has served one term.

Proposes creating a South Perimeter Downtown Development Authority to revitalize the area around Old National Highway as a commercial and entertainment district.

Plans to create a financial literacy program for South Fulton residents, particularly the elderly.

Plans to ensure minority-owned businesses and "responsible bidders" that provide living wages and affordable healthcare get priority in city contracts.

Wants to partner with South Fulton's Vocational Career Academy to create career pipelines into film, coding and supply chain management jobs.

Wants to create a Green New Deal for South Fulton.

- Proposes creating a South Perimeter Downtown Development Authority to revitalize the area around Old National Highway as a commercial and entertainment district.
- Plans to create a financial literacy program for South Fulton residents, particularly the elderly.
- Plans to ensure minority-owned businesses and "responsible bidders" that provide living wages and affordable healthcare get priority in city contracts.
- Wants to partner with South Fulton's Vocational Career Academy to create career pipelines into film, coding and supply chain management jobs.
- Wants to create a Green New Deal for South Fulton.

Supported the city council's original mask mandate which was overridden by Gov. Kemp

Joined with the NAACP to call for race to be included in morbidity and mortality data

Wants the city to use its $11 million in ARP funding on rental and mortgage assistance because Fulton County currently does not offer mortgage assistance to those impacted by COVID

- Supported the city council's original mask mandate which was overridden by Gov. Kemp
- Joined with the NAACP to call for race to be included in morbidity and mortality data
- Wants the city to use its $11 million in ARP funding on rental and mortgage assistance because Fulton County currently does not offer mortgage assistance to those impacted by COVID

Opposes the city's current spending proportions (30% on the police department, less than 1% on economic development)

- Opposes the city's current spending proportions (30% on the police department, less than 1% on economic development)

Supports the city using repossessed properties for low-wage employees to live rent-free

Believes the city needs more rental units

Wants to change the perception of renters in the city and said that public sentiment is currently anti-affordable housing

- Supports the city using repossessed properties for low-wage employees to live rent-free
- Believes the city needs more rental units
- Wants to change the perception of renters in the city and said that public sentiment is currently anti-affordable housing

Plans to create a Public Safety and Truancy Department "that responds to calls where social workers, not police, are needed."

Supports social and emotional support services in public schools for at-risk families.

Supports more data-driven policing, which "goes beyond keeping crime and arrests stats to tracking metrics of customer service"

Said that he has already contacted the Center for Policing Equity to begin tracking these outcomes in the city

- Plans to create a Public Safety and Truancy Department "that responds to calls where social workers, not police, are needed."
- Supports social and emotional support services in public schools for at-risk families.
- Supports more data-driven policing, which "goes beyond keeping crime and arrests stats to tracking metrics of customer service" 
- Said that he has already contacted the Center for Policing Equity to begin tracking these outcomes in the city

Said that only 15% of South Fulton's land is zoned for Commerical use and that nearly 90% of South Fulton residents leave the city for work

Plans to build infrastructure for commerce to keep more

of South Fulton's working residents and their dollars in city limits

Wants to build heavy rail that connects the end of MARTA’s South Line with Old National Highway

- Said that only 15% of South Fulton's land is zoned for Commerical use and that nearly 90% of South Fulton residents leave the city for work
- Plans to build infrastructure for commerce to keep more
of South Fulton's working residents and their dollars in city limits
- Wants to build heavy rail that connects the end of MARTA’s South Line with Old National Highway

Supports unifying the Zoning Code with Subdivision Regulations and raising building standards for developers

Wants to maintain the integrity of rural communities while further urbanizing high-density neighborhoods

Currently drafting legislation which will require more transparency and regular reporting of HOA financials

- Supports unifying the Zoning Code with Subdivision Regulations and raising building standards for developers
- Wants to maintain the integrity of rural communities while further urbanizing high-density neighborhoods
- Currently drafting legislation which will require more transparency and regular reporting of HOA financials

khalid kamau

- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor runs the city day to day and prepares the budget each year, meaning that they propose how much funding goes to each city department, including the police department, city parks, transportation, and the fire department. 
- The mayor also hires the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and city department heads, such as City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation. 
- Most Georgia mayors are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 

South Fulton Mayor Runoff

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