Fulton County has six elected 0fficials and seven appointed officials that represent Fulton County residents at the federal, state and local level. Local government includes officials from Fulton County townships, cities, and villages.
Public Officials and Public Officers
Although there is no precise definition for the term “public official” or “public officer,”anyone who exercises significant authority pursuant to public laws is a public officer. This includes any official who administers or enforces public laws, whether the individual is elected by the public or appointed to an office.
Generally, if there is any provision in a public law that authorizes the employment of the individual, and the individual is hired or elected under this authority, the individual is considered an employee of the state or political subdivision to which the provision applies.
The following facts indicate that an office is a “public office”:
- The office was created by the constitution or through legislation, or by a municipality or other body with authority conferred by the legislature.
- The office was delegated a portion of the powers of a government body.
- The powers conferred and the duties to be discharged are defined either directly or indirectly law or through legislative authority.
- The duties are to be performed independently and without control of a superior power other than the law.
- The office has some permanency and continuity, and the officer takes an official oath.
Examples of public officers are: the President and the Vice President; a governor or mayor; the secretary of state; a member of a legislative body, such as a state legislature, county commission, city counsel, school board, utility or hospital district; a judge, a justice of the peace, a county or city attorney, a marshal, a sheriff, a constable and a registrar of deeds; tax collectors and assessors; and members of advisory boards and committees.
