The preferences of voters in unincorporated south Fulton were heard Sept. 18 as the call to form the city of South Fulton failed in a landslide vote with percentages that were virtually opposite those of Fulton County’s four other unincorporated areas that previously voted to become municipalities. Voters rejected the city of South Fulton measure 84.65 percent to 15.35 percent.

Numbers from Fulton County Elections Office showed a total of 9,718 votes cast out of 42,041 registered voters. That number represents a 23.22 percent turnout.

Votes against the measure in many precincts ran above 90 percent. Even in the areas such as Cliftondale and Welcome All, “no” votes took the day with a 3-1 margin. The only precinct where the vote was close was at Evoline West Elementary near Fairburn, where 38 residents cast ballots in favor of the city and 37 cast their votes opposing it.

In the end, Commissioner Bill Edwards had his say and got his way. The most continuously outspoken of those opposing the new city, Edwards was initially involved with conversations that led to the pro-city groups that later advocated for the formation of the city of Chattahoochee Hill Country and the city of South Fulton. Edwards had often said that he later became concerned with the finances of the new city and its apparent leadership. For Edwards, the vote Tuesday was a vindication of those concerns.

“As a result of the vote, the people in south Fulton have said ‘leave us alone’ to the cities and to state government,” Edwards said. “We’re fine where we are. Leave us alone.”

After the votes were tallied Tuesday, South Fulton Concerned Citizens President Benny Crane said the voters had spoken. They chose to have a government where commissioners decide our fate, he said.

“In spite of the numbers, we have to take a tragic situation and create an opportunity to make good things happen. Let’s make south Fulton the best place it can be,” Crane said. “Some of us will end up in other cities (through annexation) and I envision those cities changing for the better because we will have an impact on them.”

Attending the Tuesday night gathering of the group of pro-city supporters, Rep. Roger Bruce said people should always cast their votes based on facts, not on fear. But many today voted from fear, he said.

The last word on the vote came from Sandra Hardy, in whose living room two years ago the initial idea emerged of having a chance to follow north Fulton cities and vote for local control in south Fulton.

“I do not regret what we tried to do for the future. We have nothing to apologize for. Our mission was to have the right to vote and we got that right,” Hardy said. “I will sleep well knowing that we did not betray anyone. We stood firm and never had to check our integrity. We don’t get mad, we get up.”

The proposed city of South Fulton was the only one of Fulton County’s five unincorporated areas that opted to remain unincorporated. Chattahoochee Hill Country in June, Milton and John’s Creek in 2006 and Sandy Springs in 2005 voted to establish cities. “Yes” votes in each of those areas supported cities by margins approximately equal to the “no” vote percentage in south Fulton.

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