Fayette County’s newest commissioner will be sworn in Thursday night just before the commission’s regular business meeting.

Charles Rousseau, a black democrat, won in a landslide last week against two white republicans in a special election to fill the seat left vacant by Commission Vice Chairwoman Pota Coston, the county’s first African-American elected to the county commission. Coston died July 3 after just six months in office.

Thursday’s meeting will be Rousseau’s first as county commissioner of District 5, a district created under a federal plan set up to give black residents in Fayette a more equitable chance at electing candidates of their choice. Rousseau was elected using a district-only voting.

The county goes to court in November to fight to have at-large - or countywide -voting restored. Rousseau, a retired Fulton County government administrator, has lived in Fayette for 22 years. The 54-year-old ran unsuccessfully for county commission in 2006.

The swearing-in ceremony is set for about 7 p.m.

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A rendering of the columbarium memorial that is estimated to be completed by next summer or fall in the southeast part of Oakland Cemetery, officials said. (Courtesy of Historic Oakland Foundation)

Credit: Historic Oakland Foundation