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Editor’s Note: The above video is from previous coverage

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Fulton County Elections Board Chair Cathy Woolard is resigning as of July 25, according to a spokesperson for the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and a letter obtained by Atlanta News First.

Woolard, who was the Atlanta City Council’s first openly gay member and first female president, took the helm in April, weeks ahead of Georgia’s May primary.

“I took on this role in an interim capacity to ensure smooth execution of the Georgia Primary and Primary Run-Off elections, but it is time to let someone who can serve through the fall elections take the reins,” Woolard wrote in the resignation letter to Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts and the Board of Commissioners.

She went on to praise the staff for “executing all of the necessary logistics to ensure accurate and fair elections over the last two months.”

Woolard submitted her resignation letter to Pitts on July 3.

The move came as a surprise to Commissioner Dana Barrett, who expected Woolard to stay on as chair through the general election.

“My understanding when I spoke to her when she was reappointed to this position was that she was willing to stay through the General [Election], but wanted to possibly leave earlier,” said Barrett in an interview Monday.

“She made it sound like she would stay until we replaced her. And that hasn’t happened. And so, for her to then come forward and put a deadline on this was not something I anticipated,” Barrett said.

While Woolard is stepping down, Fulton County Elections Director Nadine Williams will remain in her position.

In her resignation letter, Woolard went on to say that she wants to remain through the meeting later this month in order to manage the “business at hand” and to assure that the next leader has a proper orientation.

Atlanta News First reached out to Woolard, who provided this statement confirming her resignation:

“It’s been a pleasure serving as interim BRE chair at Fulton County while we executed the recent primary and primary election runoff. After a year away and several well-run elections, it’s gratifying to see the progress our team has made with a new director and election hub. Despite all the noise you hear, the Fulton County election department does excellent work in one of the largest election operations in the country. The new board chair will have challenges working through the headwinds of politics but I have no doubt they will maintain the progress made under the leadership of Director Nadine Williams.”

The Board of Commissioners could appoint a new BRE chairperson during their meeting on Wednesday. It’s their only meeting in July, so if an appointment is not made then, it will be delayed until August.

“We need to take our time and carefully search for and vet who the next chairman is going to be. There is no reason to rush right now,” said Barrett.

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