As Democrats swept elections across Georgia and the nation in what some dubbed a “blue tsunami,” Moraima “Mo” Ivory made history of her own, becoming the first Black woman and first Latina elected chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
Ivory defeated Republican Eric Tatum in the Nov. 3 general election, capturing 75 percent of the vote to his 25 percent. That evening, during an election watch party at her Atlanta home, Ivory sat down with SaportaReport for her first post-election interview, reflecting on her historic victory and outlining her plans to address Fulton County’s longstanding challenges.
“I mean, it’s so overwhelming to see just what happened in Georgia tonight,” Ivory said. “Black women have taken over the [reins] in Georgia.”
Ivory celebrated victories across the state, including that of Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, who made history as the nation’s first Black female governor, along with several other Democratic candidates.
At the county level, Ivory’s victory marks another shift in leadership, with five new Democratic commissioners joining the board.
“It’s just amazing,” Ivory said. “And then what we’ve done in Fulton County, which is bring five new Democratic commissioners to Fulton County, I couldn’t be more proud.”
Reflecting on what the election means for the county’s future, Ivory said, “It means innovation. It means transparency, accountability, and a new…Fulton forward.”
Ivory, who defeated longtime incumbent Robb Pitts with 65 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, brings experience in government, law and education to her new role.
She has represented District 4 on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners since January 2025. An attorney and Georgia State University law professor, Ivory also directs the university’s Center for Entertainment, Sports & Intellectual Property Law.
For Ivory, the election represents an opportunity to move beyond political promises and deliver measurable improvements.
“I think people just really wanted to hear and understand what are the issues and how are you going to fix them,” she said.
“As the chair,…my top priority as soon as I come in in January, will be to pass a budget,” Ivory said. “And then after that, it will remain the things that I mentioned in my campaign, which is to fix the jail, fund the courts, and build a hospital in South Fulton.”
Ivory said she intends to move forward with plans to build a new jail while pursuing the acquisition of the Atlanta City Detention Center to address overcrowding.
She also emphasized the relationship between court funding and jail conditions.
“If you can’t move cases through the courts, then you’re always going to have people crowded in the jail,” Ivory said.
Expanding health care access is another priority. Ivory pointed to plans for Grady South, a new hospital in Union City, as an opportunity to address the shortage of medical services in southern Fulton County.
“We need to have a corridor of healthcare between the two Grady hospitals,” Ivory said, emphasizing the need for greater access to routine medical care.
Beyond those projects, Ivory plans to examine county spending, procurement and operations during her first 100 days, potentially including a forensic budget audit.
“I don’t think that you can move forward until you know where you are,” she said.
She also hopes to strengthen affordable housing partnerships with Fulton County’s 15 cities and identify additional funding opportunities.
Her victory carried personal significance for those gathered at her home.
During a celebratory toast, Ivory’s daughter, Janie Ivory, reflected on her mother’s commitment to service.
“She could have been anything else, and she’s choosing to be a public servant; that’s a testament to her character,” she said.
Her husband, Robert Martin, reflected on watching Ivory evolve through careers in broadcasting, law and education while raising a family.
“I’ve been here to support you every step of the way,” Martin said.
Audrey Maloof, Ivory’s deputy chief of staff and former law student, recalled how Ivory invested in students beyond the classroom, taking time to understand their ambitions and support their professional development.
As Ivory prepares to lead Georgia’s most populous county, she hopes residents will ultimately judge her administration by tangible results.
“I want them to see the problems that have been plaguing the county being taken care of,” Ivory said.
But beyond infrastructure, Ivory wants residents to better understand the services their county provides and feel empowered to use them.
“I want them to know that their county is open to them, and that we give a Fulton about you,” Ivory said.
