(The Center Square) – Fulton County Judge David Emerson stayed an order that would have fined Fulton County commissioners $10,000 a day until they approved two Republicans to the election board.
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners notified the court that it is appealing the contempt order. The appeals notification prevents the court from enforcing the fines, according to the order.
The judge ordered the fine after the board voted not to appoint Republicans Julie Adams and Jason Frazier to the Fulton County Board of Elections. Three other commission members were absent.
Georgia law states the local election boards should have two members each from the Republican and Democratic parties. Local county commissions appoint a chairman.
Fair Fight Action, a group founded by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, said Adams and Frazier were involved in the “Stop the Steal” movement after the 2000 election.
Mo Ivory, one of the two commissioners who voted against Adams and Frazier, said her vote was not about partisanship.
“It’s about principle and ensuring that appointments to this board reflect the highest standards of fairness and responsibility,” Ivory said. “The court has ruled. I respect the authority of the court, but I also, like has been mentioned, have a duty to the people.”
The Georgia Court of Appeals refused to block an earlier court ruling that ordered Fulton County commissioners to seat Frazier and Adams.
