Fulton remains a county divided | www.myajc.com

New leadership in Fulton County government has inspired talk of bipartisan cooperation. But November’s election results show Georgia’s largest county remains divided along geographic, partisan and racial lines, and it will take more than rhetoric to overcome them.

Democratic County Commission Chairman John Eaves cruised to re-election with 63 percent of the vote – but lost nearly all precincts in north Fulton, a Republican stronghold. Earl Cooper, his Republican opponent, did best in far north Fulton and in other largely white and affluent areas.

Fulton’s partisan divide remains so stark that Democrats didn’t bother to field candidates in three northern commission districts, while Republicans abandoned two of the three Atlanta and south Fulton districts. In the one contested district election, Atlanta Democratic incumbent Emma Darnell trounced her Republican opponent, gaining 91 percent of the vote.

Those political dynamics will shape the new Board of Commissioners – four Democrats and three Republicans – that will hold its first meeting Jan. 7.

via Fulton remains a county divided | www.myajc.com.