Some Fulton County voters will go to the polls Tuesday for two special elections: one to choose a new county commissioner in the south part of the county, and one for a new school board member for the central part of Atlanta.

There are nine candidates in each race, so both races will likely go to a runoff. That election will be held Oct. 15.

The county commission race is to fill the seat that was left empty when District 6 commissioner Emma Darnell died this spring, after 27 years in office. The district represents much of Fulton County south of Interstate-20, including the unincorporated part of the county and some or all of nine cities.

The candidates are: Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, who has a telemarketing company; Yoshina Colbert Bradford, a real estate broker; Joe Carn, a former employee in the Fulton County solicitor's office and former College Park city council member; Carl W. Dorsey Jr., a music producer; Sonia Frances-Rolle, an educational consultant; Sojourner Marable Grimmett, who works for an affordable housing nonprofit; Warren C. Head Jr., a retired retail sales manager; Rafer Johnson, a Delta Air Lines employee; and Gordon L. Joyner, a lawyer and a former Fulton County commissioner.

For the Atlanta school board, voters will choose a new District 2 representative. Byron Amos left the board to run for Atlanta city council.

The candidates are: Aretta Baldon, Christopher Brown, Keisha Carey, Will Chandler, Nathaniel Dyer, Davida Huntley, Ed Johnson, Chadd Jonesmith and Paula Kupersmith. Carey lost a 2017 runoff for the seat.

The Atlanta school board just announced it would not renew Superintendent Meria Carstarphen's contract after it expires in June. Whoever wins the election could be a critical swing vote on the board as it searches for a new superintendent. In at least one instance since Amos' departure, the board gridlocked in a 4-4 tie, an outcome that meant the motion under consideration failed.

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC