Service is at the Heart of Everything

On her 27th working day as mayor of Richmond Hill, Kristi Cox smiled and admitted she feels like she’s been “drinking from a fire hose.” The schedule has been relentless, but Cox has her sights set on the future. 

When she stepped into the mayor’s office, it was not about prestige or politics. It was about fulfilling a purpose. 

“I’m not a politician,” she said. “I’ll never be a politician. I’m a servant.” 

That posture, humble, direct, and rooted in service, has defined Cox’s 31 years in Richmond Hill. Long before she held public office, she was involved in the community through nonprofit leadership, youth advocacy, and volunteer work. 

A Life of Service
 

Cox’s professional background reflects a consistent thread: standing in the gap for others. With a degree in criminal justice, she began her career as a juvenile probation officer, working daily with young people navigating difficult circumstances. 

“I used to always tell all of my kids that came in, there is nothing that has happened that is so horrible that we cannot find a resolution or a solution to,” she said. “But what we have to do is all sit at the table, and we all have to be honest.” 

That philosophy, truth, accountability, and collaboration still guide her leadership today. 

After stepping away from probation work, Cox served with the March of Dimes and later became director of the United Way of Bryan County, where she worked closely with families across the region. In each role, she saw firsthand how often people feel unheard. 

“Many times, people feel like they’re not heard,” she said. “They feel like they don’t know how to share their voice.” 

She never imagined that insight would one day propel her into elected office.

Leadership Forged in Loss

In 2018, Cox’s world shifted. Her 14-year-old daughter died just four hours after being diagnosed with cancer. 

Walking through that grief reshaped her understanding of both faith and community. In January 2019, she submitted her resignation from United Way, sensing a new direction ahead. 

That leading was unexpected: a run for the city council. 

“I said to myself, I’m not a politician. I’ve never been involved with politics,” she recalls. “But I felt like it was a way that I would still be able to give back and be a voice for those people that I had worked with for all those years.” 

Cox entered a special election against six men and won outright, without a runoff. For Cox, the result confirmed she was “right where God wanted me to be.” 

She served six years on the council before seeking the mayor’s seat when term limits opened the position. 

Protecting and Preserving Community 

Now, as mayor, Cox inherits both opportunity and complexity. Richmond Hill continues to grow rapidly, bringing infrastructure challenges alongside economic promise. 

“I’m not a politician. I’ve never been involved with politics. But I felt like it was a way that I would still be able to give back and be a voice for those people that I had worked with for all those years.” 

At the forefront is flood mitigation. After major storms brought significant water issues to the city, leaders pursued solutions. The city secured a FEMA grant and is conducting a comprehensive assessment to identify the most vulnerable areas. 

“Public safety is always at the top of the list,” Cox said. 

Growth requires preparation, not only for roads and drainage, but also for police, fire, and emergency services. 

“As we continue to grow … we need to ensure that we’re staying on top of public safety and provide the resources … to ensure that we’re protecting our community as well as our staff members,” she said. 

Cox is equally committed to preserving Richmond Hill’s historic identity. The city purchased the Community House, an iconic structure built during the era of Henry Ford, and is now exploring partnerships and grants to restore it. 

The goal is to bring the building back to life without placing undue burden on taxpayers. 

Inclusion Is Personal

For Cox, inclusion is not a buzzword. It is her daily reality.

She and her husband are parents to three daughters. One works for CURE Childhood Cancer, inspired by her sister’s legacy. Cox’s two younger daughters have Down syndrome; one, who was adopted from Ukraine, uses a wheelchair.

Because of that, accessibility matters deeply. During her time on council, Richmond Hill added wheelchair-accessible playground equipment, ensuring children of all abilities could play together.

“Being inclusive is very important to me,” Cox says. “We all deserve to have that seat at the table. One voice is not louder than another voice.”

Her commitment to inclusion extends beyond playgrounds. She wants everyone to feel ownership in the city’s future.

Bringing Everyone to the Table

One of Cox’s goals as mayor is to expand civic engagement.

“It should not just be a mayor and four council members that are making decisions for everyone,” she said. “We were elected to represent the people, and I want to bring everything back to the people.”

She plans to host town halls to increase transparency and create space for dialogue. She is also developing a “Citizens 101” class to help residents better understand how municipal government works.

“A lot of times we hear people speak on social media, and they’re sharing information, but the information that they have is incorrect,” she says. 

Educating citizens empowers them to participate constructively.

“I believe in having the conversations if they’re tough, if they’re easy. Connectivity is what is going to help drive us to the best future that each one of us can have.” 

Another initiative on her list is to form a youth council. As a member of the Georgia Municipal Association’s Children and Youth Advisory Council, Cox believes early civic engagement is vital. 

“Our youth are our future leaders,” she says. 

She also wants to convene business roundtables to hear directly from entrepreneurs about the challenges of opening and operating businesses in Richmond Hill. She wants to get to the “why” behind the problems. 

Regional Relationships 

Cox understands that cities do not function in isolation. She has prioritized building relationships with neighboring municipalities and county leadership, recognizing that decisions ripple across borders. 

“What happens in Richmond Hill is not in a silo,” she says. 

Collaboration, she believes, strengthens the entire region. 

As a newly elected mayor, she has connected with both veteran and first-term leaders in surrounding cities, exchanging ideas and learning from shared experiences. 

Faith at the Center 

Throughout every conversation, Cox returns to one anchor: her faith. 

“You can’t separate Kristi from Jesus and Jesus from Kristi,” she says. “That is always going to be what I turn to, to make decisions.” 

She acknowledges the distinction between church and state, yet her personal integrity flows directly from her beliefs. 

“Integrity is very important to me,” she said. “Being ethical. Working efficiently. Having a strong work ethic. All of that is based upon my faith.” 

Her approach to leadership mirrors her earlier work in probation: honest conversations, even when difficult. 

“I believe in having the conversations if they’re tough, if they’re easy,” she says. “Connectivity is what is going to help drive us to the best future that each one of us can have. ” 

The Weight and the Joy 

Balancing public office with family life and volunteer commitments requires stamina. Cox serves on nonprofit boards, participates in community cleanups and regularly volunteers at Magnolia Manor. For her, giving back is energizing rather than draining. 

“There are days that I do get burned out,” she admits. “But God’s always going to provide you what you need. I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.” 

She laughs about thriving under pressure. “I work best last minute and in chaos,” she said. It is a trait that has carried her through nonprofit fundraising events and now through the whirlwind of mayoral responsibilities. 

For downtime, she turns to weekly gatherings with close friends or episodes of Law & Order and Hawaii Five-0. 

Her version of fun often circles back to service, playing bingo with seniors, supporting youth projects, or organizing neighborhood cleanups. 

“That is my fun,” she said. 

An Open Door 

If there is one message Cox wants residents to hear, it is this that access matters. 

“I have an open-door policy,” she said. “They can … reach out to me with any concern, or even their criticism.” 

She does not claim perfection. “I am not always going to make the right decisions, because I’m going to make mistakes. I’m human,” she says. “But I’m going to own those mistakes.” 

For Cox, influence is not measured by title. It is measured by trust and whether citizens feel seen, heard, and valued. 

“I just love what I do,” she said. “I really do love serving my community.” 

In an era often defined by division and distrust, Cox’s leadership offers a different narrative, one of faith-rooted integrity, inclusive vision, and steady, servant-hearted commitment. And in Richmond Hill, that kind of influence will shape the future one honest conversation at a time. ■