Trouble Clouds Race for South Fulton Mayor: Two Candidates Under Review

SOUTH FULTON, GA. — The race for mayor in South Fulton has hit turbulence, with two leading candidates now facing separate legal and ethics concerns.

On Thursday, a Fulton County judge approved a temporary protection order filed by South Fulton resident Christopher McCreary against mayoral candidate Dr. Mark Baker. According to McCreary, he was attending a public event when he noticed he was being followed. Moments later, he says Dr. Baker approached him, identified himself as a mayoral candidate, and allegedly threatened him over comments McCreary had made online criticizing Baker’s leadership.

A hearing to review the temporary protection order is scheduled for December 15.

Meanwhile, Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs, who is also running for mayor, faces an ethics complaint filed by resident Reshard Snellings. The complaint alleges that Gumbs violated the city charter by failing to fully disclose campaign contributions and voting on issues that may have involved donors, potentially creating conflicts of interest.

Specifically, the complaint cites zoning cases involving developer Greg Boler, claiming that Gumbs received campaign contributions connected to him but still participated in related votes. Snellings argues that the councilwoman’s disclosures were incomplete or difficult to interpret, undermining transparency and public trust.

The South Fulton Ethics Board is currently reviewing the complaint, which suggests possible penalties ranging from a formal reprimand to removal from office, and recommends forwarding the matter to the state ethics commission for further review.

Both matters are ongoing, with hearings and investigations pending. For residents watching the mayoral race, these developments raise questions about accountability, transparency, and ethics in local government—issues many say are central to the future of South Fulton leadership.

As the election approaches, voters will be weighing these pending matters alongside each candidate’s policy positions, leaving a community eager for clarity and responsible governance.

Because no candidate received over 50 % of the vote in that general election, the top two—Carmalitha L. Gumbs and Dr. Mark Baker—advance to a runoff election on December 2, 2025.