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The South Fulton Mayor delivered his final State of the City address

South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau delivered his final State of the City address on the evening of May 1, marking the city’s eighth anniversary and signaling the end of his tenure.

During his farewell, Kamau chose not to address those controversies directly. He instead focused on the city’s progress. He also emphasized his personal growth as a leader. Speaking at the Southwest Arts Center, Kamau, also known as Mayor Kobi, reflected on his time in office and emphasized the importance of civility in political discourse.

Reflecting on the city’s identity, Kamau highlighted South Fulton’s status as the Blackest city in America. Nearly 92% of South Fulton’s residents are Black.

“I really think that a lot of what distinguishes us from Atlanta is that a lot of what you hear about Atlanta being this Black mecca and this center of Black excellence a lot of that is actually South Fulton.”

In closing remarks Kamau expressed hope for the city’s future.

“A more noble city lies on the other side of these troubled waters. Do not fall victim to the post-traumatic slave narrative that Black people cannot rightly govern.”

Kamau announced last week that he would not seek reelection. The mayor cited the low mayoral salary of approximately $47,000 as insufficient compensation for the demands of the role. He revealed that the low pay had forced him to sell his mother’s house and rely on food stamps. Despite proposing a salary increase to $85,000, the city council did not approve the raise.

His decision not to run for a second term follows a series of controversies, including allegations of unauthorized expenditures totaling around $26,000 on a city-issued purchasing card. These expenses encompassed international trips and office enhancements, such as a mural and a pool table.

As the city prepares for its next election, three candidates have announced their intentions to run for mayor: former Mayor Bill Edwards, Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs, and Navy veteran Kelvin Davis. Each candidate has expressed a commitment to restoring integrity and transparency to the city’s leadership.

South Fulton mayor gives State of the City address

South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau delivered the State of the City address on Thursday evening at the Southwest Arts Center. Kamau previously announced that he would not be seeking re-election because of the low pay.

The Brief

South Fulton's embattled mayor gave his "farewell address" during his State of the City on Thursday evening.

Mayor Khalid Kamau's speech comes a week after he announced at a South Fulton City Council meeting that he plans not to seek re-election.

What we know:

The address, which marks South Fulton's eighth anniversary as one of metro Atlanta's newest cities, began at 7:30 p.m. at the Southwest Arts Center on New Hope Road.

The backstory:

Kamau has fought with other city leaders over the salary, which he said was the main reason he did not want to run again. He claimed that the salary forced him to sell his mother's house and temporarily be on food stamps.

According to South Fulton records, the salary of the mayor of South Fulton is $47,000. Kamau proposed raising the salary to $85,000 last year. That proposal was not approved by the City Council.

South Fulton mayor not running for re-election

South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau announced at a recent city council meeting that he will no longer seek re-election.

In January, city council members accused Kamau of making tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized expenditures with his city purchase card.

Officials accused Kamau of using his city-issued purchase card to make unauthorized purchases, including a 20-day trip to Ghana, spending approximately $26,000 without the city's approval. Kamau has defended the trips as part of his economic development plan.

In March, the City Council said that Kamau had used city funds to commission a mural for his office without proper authorization, taking the funds to pay for finishing the work directly from the mayor's salary.

For the remainder of his term, Kamau says he will be scaling down his work, spending the last seven months in office as the "part-time mayor" that the city's charter identifies him as.

What's next:

Former Mayor Bill Edwards, Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs, and Navy veteran Kelvin J. Davis have announced campaigns to succeed Kamau for South Fulton's top job in November's election.

The Source: Information for this story was taken from previous FOX 5 reports.

On April 9, Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts and members of the Board of Commissioners participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for Grady Health System’s new 20,000 square-foot freestanding emergency department, which will be located on Highway 92 at South Fulton Parkway in Union City.

Commissioners in attendance included Vice Chair Bob Ellis, district Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr., and Commissioners Bridget Thorne, Dana Barrett, and Mo Ivory, as well as County Manager Dick Anderson and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Pamela Roshell. Fulton County and Grady officials were joined by Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and Union City Mayor Vince Williams, along with dozens of community members.

The Freestanding Emergency Room is the latest collaboration in Fulton County’s longstanding relationship with Grady, which dates back for more than a century. Fulton County will contribute approximately $19.2 million in debt service payments for this project.

The new freestanding Emergency Center responds to a need for improved healthcare access in South Fulton. In 2022, two hospitals in Fulton County closed their doors – one in Atlanta and one in East Point. After those closures, Fulton County collaborated with Morehouse School of Medicine and Ernst & Young to conduct the “Project Care” study, which examined the impact of gaps in healthcare access for Fulton County residents. This study confirmed the existence of a significant “healthcare desert” in South Fulton, and a life expectancy difference of 7 years between residents in South Fulton and those in North Fulton. Following that study, Fulton County engaged Grady leadership in addressing the issue.

Chairman Pitts noted, “We learned that the lack of accessible emergency care in South Fulton is literally costing people their lives. I applaud Grady’s leadership for listening, and I applaud them even more for taking real action. Residents in South Fulton need this and they deserve it.”

The new freestanding emergency room will open in Fall 2026. The 40-acre parcel provides the opportunity for future expansion to potentially include additional healthcare services.

Industry: Business

William “Bill” Edwards vows to end negativity and restore credibility to Fulton County’s 2nd largest City.

South Fulton, GA (PRUnderground) April 21st, 2025

A crowd of enthusiastic residents gathered to show their support of former Mayor William “Bill” Edwards as he officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of the City of South Fulton. The announcement at the Enon Ranch drew a diverse group of local business owners, community leaders, young professionals, and longtime residents, who rallied behind Edwards’ vision for a stronger, more forward-thinking City of South Fulton. Edwards shared his S.E.A.L. the Deal mission that focuses on Sustainability (stabilizing city services), Economic Development (bringing new business to the city), Accountability (restoring the overall trust in governance), and Listening (heeding the concerns of citizens to address their issues).

“Citizens of South Fulton have grown tired of the constant negativity and infighting in their city, and they desire a leader who can deliver on the promises made when they voted to create this city. I am that positive leader with a wealth of government experience, vast political and personal relationships, and one who can seal the deal,” Edwards said.

Prior to serving as the City’s Inaugural Mayor, Edwards served over 14 years as the Fulton County Commissioner representing South Fulton. In this role, Edwards was instrumental in the allocation of millions of dollars of funding for the South Fulton Service District and was responsible for the creation of some of the crown jewels of the city, including Wolf Creek Amphitheater, South Fulton Arts Center, and the Adult-Day Program at the H.J.C Bowden Senior Multi-purpose Facility. As Mayor, Edwards successfully negotiated the acquisition of the majority of Fulton Industrial Boulevard (FIB) to be within the city limits. FIB is considered to be a major economic engine in the region.

Edwards’ April 17th campaign rally was also the kick-off to his listening tour across the City of South Fulton, designed to be an opportunity for residents to share what they deem most important to move the city forward. Edwards’ next stop will be Sunday, April 27th, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at Mulan’s Asian Cuisine, 1195 Fairburn Road SW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30331. Get more details about the campaign and the listening tour at www.votebilledwards.com.

About Bill Edwards for Mayor – South Fulton

Known for his tireless efforts in fostering economic growth and supporting civic organizations, Edwards has played a pivotal role in making South Fulton one of the fastest-growing and most prosperous areas in Metro Atlanta. During his tenure as the first mayor of the City of South Fulton, Bill Edwards achieved several notable accomplishments. Edwards prioritized attracting new businesses and encouraging economic growth in South Fulton. He worked on initiatives to create a business-friendly environment to help increase job opportunities and improve the local economy. For more information visit https://votebilledwards.com/

South Fulton city leaders have created a new policy for officials traveling internationally.

The move comes months after controversy with Mayor Khalid Kamau over city expenses used during a trip to Africa.

The backstory:

In January, city council members accused Mayor Khalid Kamau of making tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized expenditures with his city purchase card.

Officials accused Kamau of using his city-issued purchase card to make unauthorized purchases, including a 20-day trip to Ghana, spending approximately $26,000 without the city's approval.

The mayor has defended his trips, stating that they were business-related and part of his economic development plans.

South Fulton City Council addresses mayor flap

Some tough questions for South Fulton City Council. They met Tuesday night for the first time since lifting a ban blocking Mayor Khalid Kamau from City Hall. Weeks ago, council members voted to bar the mayor from entering the building, but how they reached that decision has raised questions.

As a response to the allegations, the city council limited Kamau's access to his office at South Fulton City Hall and put restrictions on his city-issued vehicle and card. His access to facilities has since been restored after conversations with the city's attorney.

Last month, the City Council said that Kamau had used city funds to commission a mural for his office without proper authorization, taking the funds to pay the finish the work directly from the mayor's salary.

Previously, the council also voted to suspend international travel for 30 to 45 days while the current policy undergoes review.

What we know:

The new policy, adopted at a meeting this week, will require all international travel get pre-approved by a majority of the South Fulton City Council.

The travel proposals will need to have an itinerary with projected costs, and officials will be required to produce a post-trip report show how the travel directly benefits the South Fulton residents.

What they're saying:

"This action, taken at our April 8 Council meeting, reflects the will of the residents who expect accountability and professionalism from their elected leaders. It also ensures that all future trips undertaken on behalf of the City will be subject to clear guidelines, proper oversight, and a demonstrated public benefit," Councilmember Helen Zenobia Willis said.

"I thank my Council colleagues for standing with me to put safeguards in place that restore trust, promote fiscal responsibility, and ensure that we remain focused on the issues that matter most to our residents, taxpayers and other city stakeholders," she said.

The Source: Information for this story came from a release by Councilmember Helen Zenobia Willis and previous FOX 5 reporting.