You deserve professionalism, exemplary services, accountability, responsiveness, and responsible stewardship.
Dr. Jodi Merriday (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners to represent the county’s District 3 in Georgia, which includes all of Buckhead and parts of both Sandy Springs and Midtown. There are four other Democratic candidates and two Republican candidates, in the field running for the seat.
Merriday is one of five Democratic candidates running for the seat. There are claims that one of the Democratic candidates is a Republican in disguise, supporting “non-Democratic” views. Lee Morris had been a member of the Republican Party and was a member of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in Georgia, representing District 3 from 2014. Morris and left office in December 2022. Lee Morris allegedly voted for State Bill 202 in 2021, which allowed state takeover of local election boards, restricted early voting and changed voter ID requirements; and allegedly voted against a resolution endorsing the federal John Lewis Voting Rights Act. So, there are alleged claims that Morris is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
A native of Atlanta, Merriday is founder and executive director of The Southwest Atlanta Foundation, Inc. which helps to galvanize resources and strengthen educational achievement, social mobility, and community revitalization in NPU-P (Neighborhood Planning Unit ‘P’), City Council District 11, and School Board District 6 of Southwest Atlanta. The foundation raises funding, establishes partnerships, and coordinates volunteers to support seven Programs: Back to School – Ready-Set-Go!; Read to Succeed; S.O.S. (Summer Opportunities for Students); Reading Corner; Adopt-a-Family; and Legacy and Learning.
As Commissioner of District 3, Merriday will prioritize:
- Protecting your Vote through secure and fair elections, protecting voting rights, securing elections and ballots
- Strengthening Public Safety and Justice to Decrease Crime
- Reducing Property Taxes to support home owners
- Building hospitals and increasing mental health and senior services
- Enriching arts programming and leverage libraries to increase literacy
- Promoting fiscal accountability and transparency
- Fighting against FBI raids, ICE and Trump
Merriday brings over thirty years of experience from higher education, public education, and government to her service as Commissioner of Fulton County for District 3.
She was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She received a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University in 1992, a graduate degree from London School of Economics and Political Science in 2000, and a Ph.D. from Temple University in 2006. Merriday’s professional experience includes being the chief executive officer (CEO) of Diplomacy, Inc.; an assistant professor at Gordon State College; a lecturer at Spelman College, Community College of Philadelphia, the Art Institute of Philadelphia, and Clark Atlanta University; an adjunct lecturer at Georgia State University; a special assistant to the President of Spelman College; the assistant director of the Georgia University’s Neighborhood Collaborative; and a project manager at the Atlanta Committee for Progress.
Merriday has been affiliated with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; The Links Incorporated; League of Women Voters; the NAACP; The Southwest Atlanta Foundation; the Atlanta Justice Center; Henning Mediation and Arbitration; the International Ombudsman Association; the National Anger Management Association; and Eckerd College.
This breadth of experience has given her a practical understanding of how large institutions operate and how to improve them when systems fall short. Merriday believes that good governance is not abstract. It determines how quickly problems are fixed and whether people feel heard. Throughout her career, she has been trusted to handle sensitive matters with discretion, fairness, and professionalism. Her work requires careful listening, attention to detail, and the ability to translate complex processes into clear outcomes for the people she serves. She is ready to bring a steady and solutions-oriented approach to the Fulton County Commission that focuses on accountability, effective service delivery, and governance that earns public trust.
In addition to endorsements from The Atlanta Inquirer, Merriday has been endorsed by the outgoing District 3 Commissioner Dana Barrett, the Honorable Andrew Young (54th Mayor of Atlanta), Sonya Halpern (Georgia’s State Senator of District 39), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Georgia Federation of Public Service Employees (Georgia FPSE), and the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council.
For more information, go to JodiMerriday.com.
The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Early Voting in Fulton County, Georgia:
- Monday, April 27, 2026 to Friday, May 15, 2026
- Mondays – Fridays from 7 am until 7 pm
- Saturdays, May 2, 2026 and May 9, 2026 from 9 am until 5 pm
- Sundays, May 3, 2026 from 12 pm until 5 pm
- NO VOTING ON Sunday, May 10, 2026 for Mother’s Day
