FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Chair of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections is resigning from her position as the board prepares for the November presidential election.
Patrise Perkins-Hooker announced her resignation during a board meeting on Thursday. The news came after she was chosen to serve as Atlanta's interim city attorney earlier this week. Her resignation will be effective when a replacement is found and approved by the county's board of commissioners. Until then, she will continue to retain her position.
"I want the members of the public to understand that my new role does not prohibit me from serving as chair," she stated during the meeting. "Nor does it create an actual or perceived conflict of interest between my employment with the city and my duties as chair."
She said she is resigning from the position to focus on her new role.
"I am resigning because I will need more time to handle the demands of this position," she stated. "And I do not want a spectacle to be created by an imaginary ethical conflict of interest to overshadow the department's efforts to conduct a fantastic election in November."
Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts said the county respects Perkins-Hooker's decision to focus on her new responsibilities and is grateful she is remaining in the role until a replacement is found.
"I am confident that we will be able to identify a candidate with the right experience, knowledge and leadership ability to Chair our Board of Registration & Elections during this period of incredible scrutiny," Pitts stated.
Perkins-Hooker had previously served as Fulton County's Attorney from 2016 to 2021. She made history in 2014 when she was elected the 52nd, third woman and first Black president of the State Bar of Georgia. She also graduated with honors from Georgia Tech and earned a JD and an MBA from Emory University School of Law and Goizueta Business School, respectively.
Perkins-Hooker is expected to start her new position as Atlanta's interim City Attorney on May 9. The timeline for finding a replacement for her current role is currently unknown.