Georgia voted for George Washington for President on January 7, 1789. Technically, they elected Presidential Electors who would later meet in Augusta and cast their ballots for Washington.
On January 7, 1795, Georgia Governor George Matthews signed the Yazoo Act, passed after four land companies bribed members of the General Assembly to vote for legislation selling more than 35 million acres of land for less than 2 cents per acre.
Georgia Congressman Newt Gingrich (R) was re-elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on January 7, 1997. In the election for a second term, nine Republicans voted against the incumbent Speaker.
Savannah is considering local measures to protect the 1898 Savannah Powder Magazine, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Case in point: the Savannah Powder Magazine off Ogeechee Road past Chatham Parkway. The 1898 Gothic Revival, red brick building stored dynamite and other explosive materials away from residential areas until 1971.
Now, the Powder Magazine may soon receive stronger protections with the City of Savannah spearheading a zoning measure to protect historic properties outside of historic districts. The Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission recommended approval Tuesday of a Historic Property Overlay (HPO) District at the site.
The measure provides an avenue to protect individual historic resources, particularly those outside locally protected neighborhoods, opposed to the widespread areas within historic districts. As the property owner of the Powder Magazine, the city intends to use the property as a model to protect other historic sites.
“We are hoping that this becomes an example that can open possibilities for other parts of the community,” said the City of Savannah’s Preservation Officer Jessica Baldwin.
The Powder Magazine received listing on the National Register of Historic Places from the National Park Service in February 2025. The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s “official list” of historic places worthy of preservation, according to its NPS webpage.
More than 100,000 properties have been listed on the register since its inception in 1966. Listing on the national register makes properties eligible for federal preservation tax credits. But the local overlay could provide greater preservation protections.
Georgia Politics, Campaigns, and Elections
Governor Brian Kemp yesterday issued Executive Order #01.06.26.01, setting a Special Election for Tuesday, March 10, 2026, to fill the remainder of the term of former U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Extreme Northwest Georgia). The Secretary of State’s Office issued a Call for Special Election for the 14th Congressional District.
“Notice is hereby given that a Special Election shall be held on March 10, 2026, in Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker, Whitfield, and portions of Cobb Counties for United States House of Representatives, District 14, to fill a vacancy due to the resignation of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. A Special Runoff Election, if needed, shall be held on April 7, 2026.
Qualifying for the United States House of Representatives District 14 Special Election will be held at the Office of Georgia Secretary of State’s Elections Division, 2 MLK Jr. Dr., Floyd West Tower Suite 802, Atlanta, GA 30334.
The dates and hours of qualifying will be Monday, January 12, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2026, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m., and Wednesday, January 14, 2026, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 1:00 p.m. The qualifying fee shall be $5,220.00.
Monday, February 9, 2026, is the last day to register to vote for all persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to vote in the Special Election. Advance in-person absentee voting will begin on Monday, February 16, 2026.”
From the Savannah Morning News:
The district Greene used to serve sits in the northwestern corner of Georgia, stretching from just northwest of Atlanta to the southern border of Tennessee and the eastern border of Alabama.
The district has a population of about 765,000 people, according to 2020 census data, and a median household income of $78,969. Only 28.5% of the district has a bachelor’s degree or higher, and the district has a 61% employment rate.
The district is predominantly white, but it also has a large Hispanic community, including more than 90,000 residents.
Here are the 22 names listed by the Federal Election Commission as candidates for Georgia’s House District 14:
• Shawn Harris (D)
• Star Black (R)
• Reagan Box (R)
• Clarence Blalock (D)
• Jefferson Edward Criswell (R)
• Michael Allen Corbin (R)
• Uloma Ekpete (R)
• Rob Ruszkowki, “Rush” (No party listed)
• Benjamin M. Cope (R)
• Linvel Risner (R)
• Jim Tully (R)
• Jenna Jaye Turnipseed (R)
• James M Mr Brown (R)
• Timothy Beau Brown (R)
• Colton Moore (R)
• Nicky Lama (R)
• Jacqueline Cherise Wilmer (R)
• Thomas Jonathan Jackson Gray (R)
• Megahn Strickland (R)
• Christian Michael Hurd (R)
• Brian C. Stover (R)In a Dec. 21 post on X, Greene said the special election “to replace me” was underway, and that she’d heard a potential candidate say “I’m not going to be like MTG.”
“If you are going to run to replace me, you better run for the people, telling them how YOU will REPRESENT them, NOT how you will bow to loyalty to the WH (White House) and Republican leadership,” she went on to say. “The race is about YOU, not ME, and the job title is Representative of the People, not yourself or the President or the Republican Party.”
So far, what’s likely to be a five-election marathon to hold the seat has quickly become a political free-for-all. Trump is viewed as the ultimate endorsement, and his advisers have sounded out a string of potential contenders who made pilgrimages to the White House.
But the president hasn’t yet taken sides. The hopefuls who have rushed to fill the void include a prominent prosecutor, a contentious state senator and several local officials. No clear front-runner has emerged.
Another wildcard is Greene herself, who has said she won’t endorse and has pushed back on contenders who claim to be running with her blessing.
Ricky Hess, chair of the Paulding County GOP, doesn’t yet have a favorite. But he said the strongest candidates are addressing property taxes, health care costs and the price of everyday goods.
Others note the district remains firmly aligned with Trump. And they expect the nominee to reflect that. Jackie Harling, chair of the 14th District GOP, said her key test hinges on who understands the district’s needs and can lead with “seriousness and conviction.”
“That means standing with the voters who overwhelmingly support President Trump and the America First policies that delivered results,” she said, “while staying grounded in the Constitution and accountable to the people back home, not Washington insiders.”
With no party primary to select nominees, all the contenders will appear on the same March 10 special election ballot to finish Greene’s unexpired term. Since no candidates are expected to win a majority, an April 7 runoff between the top two finishers is likely.
There’s also an overlapping election for the full two-year term that begins in January 2027. That means there will likely be three additional votes in that race: the May party primary, a potential primary runoff and the November general election.
Gov. Brian Kemp was under pressure to quickly set a date for the election. The sudden death this week of Republican U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California trimmed the GOP’s slim control of the House to just 218 seats. The Democrats control 213.
The timing creates a nightmare scenario for some Republicans. In a fractured field, and with no party primary to winnow the list, party leaders worry a unified Democratic effort could make the race competitive.
Among the most prominent Republicans are state Sen. Colton Moore, who was ousted from the conservative Senate GOP caucus after clashes with Republican colleagues, and local prosecutor Clay Fuller, who ran for the seat in 2020.
Others include pastor Tom Gray, Dalton City Councilman Nicky Lama, former Paulding County Commissioner Brian Stover and former Greene staffer Jim Tully.
Georgia Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte still hasn’t ruled out a run.
Republicans are heavily favored to win the district, which was drawn by lawmakers for a GOP candidate to win. But Democrats hope to exploit the fractured GOP field to make the race competitive.
The party’s top contender is Shawn Harris, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general who won roughly one-third of the vote in 2024 against Greene.
Yesterday, voters in State House District 23, including part of Cherokee County, elected Republican Bill Fincher to fill the remainder of the term of the late State Rep. Mandy Ballinger (R), according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Bill Fincher is the projected winner of the Georgia State House District 23 special election runoff.
Some voters in Cherokee County went back to the polls Tuesday to vote the race for the house seat
The special election for State House District 23 was called after the passing of State Rep. Mandi Ballinger. The House Speaker shared in October she died after a “long and courageous” battle with cancer.
Fincher and Democrat Scott Sanders were the two candidates vying for the position in the runoff race after being the top two contenders in the Dec. 9 special election. Results show that none of the six candidates met the 50 percent plus one vote threshold last month, which led to Tuesday’s race between Fincher and Sanders.
SkyNet alert: the Hyundai metaplant in Bryan County intends to deploy humanoid robots to rule over us construct vehicles, according to the AJC.
Thousands of humanoid robots are slated in a few years to join their human counterparts working on the assembly lines.
Korean automaker Hyundai and its subsidiary, Boston Dynamics, unveiled a sweeping artificial intelligence robotics strategy at the CES trade show Monday in Las Vegas, a presentation that featured doglike robots dancing to K-pop songs. The pageantry was to highlight a new Atlas robot, a humanoid AI-powered machine designed to help with repetitive tasks in Hyundai’s factories and warehouses.
The company plans to deploy30,000 Atlas robots a year starting in 2028, including at its high-tech factory near Savannah, which Hyundai calls its Metaplant. The robots will integrate within manufacturing operations across Hyundai’s global footprint.
Macon-Bibb County Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Seth Clark resigned his seat and may run for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor, according to 13WMAZ.
Macon-Bibb County Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tempore Seth Clark has resigned from the commission, a move he announced Monday night on social media that is already fueling speculation about a possible run for lieutenant governor in 2026.
Clark, who represented District 5, said in a Facebook post that he made the decision as the new year begins. His official resignation is dated Dec. 31.
“As we begin a new year, I want to share that I’ve made the decision to resign from the Macon-Bibb County Commission,” Clark said. “Since 2020, what we’ve accomplished together has been truly special.”
First elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Clark served as Mayor Pro Tempore, a role chosen by fellow commissioners that presides in the mayor’s absence and serves on key committees.
In his post, Clark highlighted what he called major accomplishments during his tenure, including tax relief, public safety investments and neighborhood improvements.
“We cut taxes for working families while expanding services that lift up every part of our community,” he said. “We invested in public safety, rebuilt infrastructure and greenspace, and strengthened neighborhoods — because we believe in one another.”
Clark also thanked residents and said the experience left him hopeful about Macon’s trajectory.
“Your belief in each other — and your willingness to turn that belief into action — has inspired me and continues to give me hope for Macon’s future,” he wrote. “You’ve shown me, my family, and our state that we govern best when we look after one another. I’ll never forget it.”
His resignation comes just weeks after Clark was named to NewDEAL, a national network of Democratic state and local officials known for elevating rising leaders.
The group has a record of members later running for — and winning — higher office. Notable alumni include former State Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Clark did not announce a campaign but teased an upcoming move.“Georgia can learn a lot from Macon — not just from what we’ve done, but from how we do it: together,” he wrote. “Our story is worth telling, and the lessons we’ve learned are worth sharing. And in the coming days, I’ll be announcing my intention to do just that.”
The timing of his announcement, combined with other reports about a potential statewide bid, has raised expectations that Clark could enter the 2026 lieutenant governor’s race.
University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock said such a bid would be a major leap.
“It’s a big step up from having been Mayor Pro Tempore of one of Georgia’s major cities to then running the entire state,” Bullock said, noting Georgia’s roughly 11 million residents and millions of voters.
Bullock said Clark is well known in Macon and Middle Georgia but would need to quickly introduce himself to voters in metro Atlanta, where most Democratic primary votes are cast.
“While he may be very well known in Macon and even in Middle Georgia, he’s got to introduce himself to an awful lot of people,” Bullock said. “The bulk of the votes that will come in the Democratic primary are going to be in the metro Atlanta area, where he’s probably not that well known.”
Bullock also pointed to the tradition of lieutenant governors emerging from the state legislature, particularly the state Senate.
“By tradition, individuals who become lieutenant governor move up, as it were, from having been state senators,” he said. “It’s not a requirement that one have served in the legislature, or more specifically in the state Senate, but that has been the tradition.”
That outsider status could shape both the campaign and how Clark would govern if elected.
“For a person who is an outsider, not having served in the legislature, this would be different,” Bullock said. “It would be certainly a learning curve for him in terms of the traditions of the Senate and the expectations of the presiding officer.”
Currently, the Democratic candidates in that race include Richard Wright and State Senator Josh McLaurin. On the Republican side, several candidates have declared, including State Senators David Clark, Greg Dolezal, Steve Gooch, John F. Kennedy, Blake Tillery, Brenda Nelson-Porter, Takosha Swan, and Jerry Timbs.
State Sen. Nabilah Parkes (D-Duluth) announced she will run for Georgia Insurance Commissioner, according to the AJC.
The Duluth Democrat launched her campaign this morning with a pledge to make rising insurance premiums the centerpiece of her challenge to Republican incumbent John King, a former police chief and military veteran who is seeking another term.
“From health insurance to home and auto coverage, Georgia families are facing an affordability crisis on multiple fronts,” Parkes said.
Parkes also accused the office of being too cozy with the industry it regulates, saying it has been “more responsive to insurance executives and lobbyists than regular people.”
Her campaign launch video reinforces that theme, calling King a “puppet for the insurance companies.”
King’s campaign responded with this statement: “You aren’t going to find a bigger difference in candidates, and visions for Georgia’s future, than this one. Bring it on.”
Georgia legislators are considering repealing the state income tax and are looking at eliminating some tax cuts to make up the difference, according to the Capitol Beat News Service via the Savannah Morning News.
When lawmakers return to the Georgia Capitol next week, they will likely be eyeing cutbacks to tax credits and exemptions to pay for a priority of Senate leader Burt Jones.
The Republican lieutenant governor, who is campaigning for the governor’s office, has said he wants to abolish the state income tax.
The 5.19% tax generates $16 billion for state government, so deleting it would open a sizable hole in the $37.7 billion budget.
That is why one of his top lieutenants, Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, has been talking about cutbacks to some of the $30 billion in state tax breaks.
Tillery, who is campaigning to succeed Jones, will have significant say over the next state budget as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was tapped by Jones to lead a Senate study committee on eliminating the state income tax, which will convene again Wednesday.
“It is not a question of if we go to zero, it’s when and how we take our income tax to zero,” Tillery said at a hearing in November.
In the intervening weeks, the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts has released analyses of at least a dozen of the state’s credits and exemptions. Perhaps some of them could be clipped or eliminated to pay for lower income taxes.
Here is a summary of what they do and how much they deduct from state revenues.
• The credit for employer provided child care was enacted in 1994 to help employers help parents enter the workforce. Only about a thousand entities tap it, around a quarter of a percent of all businesses in the state. It is expected to divert $18.2 million from state coffers for the fiscal year that started in July while adding $21.6 million to the economy. Yet the analysis determined that parents who benefit would have worked and accessed child care anyway, resulting in zero return on investment. But the review notes that early child care improves outcomes for children.
• The sales tax exemption for personal and laundry services cost the state $176.6 million in the fiscal year that ended in July while adding $249 million to the economy and 7,095 jobs. The average cost per job was $23,481.
• The PEACH Education tax credit dates to 2017. It credits taxpayers who donate to public education. The credit increased donations to public education nonprofits by 23% in the fiscal year that ended in July, at a $5 million cost to the state.
• The foster care tax credit was enacted in 2022 to increase donations to organizations that support aging foster children and “justice-involved” youth. It is expected to cost $11.1 million in the fiscal year that started in July.
• The Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit, enacted in 2018, cost $88.8 million in the fiscal year that ended in July. It gives taxpayers a dollar-for dollar income tax credit for contributions to private school scholarship funds. “The credit merely shifted education expenditures from public to private schools, with no impact on the state economy,” auditors reported.
• The law enforcement donation tax credit, enacted in 2022, credits donations to qualified foundations. It cost $12.2 million in the fiscal year that ended in July, increasing such donations 48%.
• The rural hospital tax credit, enacted in 2017, credits donations that help increasingly vulnerable, small rural health care facilities stay afloat. It cost the state $79.5 million in the fiscal year that ended in July, increasing donations 28%.
• The vehicle trade-in tax exemption cost $129 million in the fiscal year that ended in July and reduced local revenue by nearly $240 million. It saved consumers an average $1,193 per vehicle.
• The manufacturing investment tax credit was enacted in 1994 to stimulate investment in the manufacturing and telecommunications sectors. It cost $144.2 million in the fiscal year that ended in July 2024, costing an average of $816,477 for each of the 176 jobs it created.
• The sales tax exemption for administrative and support services was by far the largest in this group, costing the state $1.2 billion in the fiscal year that ended in July. It resulted in 22,687 jobs at an average cost of $50,196 for each. It added $1.64 billion to the economy.
• The tax exemption for waste management and remediation services cost $79.7 million in the fiscal year that ended in July, resulting in 405 jobs at an average cost of $193,086 for each.
• The data center sales tax exemption, enacted in 2018 to encourage companies to build them in Georgia, exempts a portion of construction materials and purchases of computers and servers from state and local sales and use taxes. At a cost of $474.2 million in state tax revenue for the fiscal year that ended in July, it was the second largest in this group. (The study did not quantify the cost of exemptions from local sales and use taxes.) The audit said only 30% of data centers chose to locate in the state because of the exemption, which resulted in 28,350 construction jobs and 5,471 data center operations jobs. The cost worked out to an average of $15,506 per construction job and $85,414 per operations job.
State Rep. Chas Cannon (R-Moultrie) discussed his legislative priorities in the coming Session, according to the Moultrie Observer.
“I think you will see an effort by both the House and Senate to reduce the level of taxation on the everyday Georgian,” said Cannon.
A number of bills concerning tax legislation came out of the last legislative session. They were signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp. The laws, which took effect July 1 of last year, addressed property tax and state income tax. According to Cannon, lowering taxes will continue to be a priority and topic of discussion.
“There is some discussion of reducing and potentially eliminating some types of property tax as well as personal income tax,” he said. “I think you will see legislation move forward on both. I’m not sure where things will end up, but I think the tax burden on Georgians will be lowered as it should be.”
As far as his stance on property tax, on a personal level, Cannon said he has deeds for his family farm that go back to 1912. He also has the property tax receipts that his great-great-grandfather received from the Colquitt County Tax Commissioner when he paid the taxes on the land.
“So, we’ve paid taxes on the same property for going on 113 years now. That seems more like a lease than ownership,” Cannon said. “At some point, the amount of property taxes paid to the government exceeds the purchase price of the property being taxed.”
He said he remembers his dad saying that property tax was always the worst Christmas present he had to pay for every year, as taxes were due in December.
“I agree with him,” he said.
Cannon said that affordability would be another issue the legislature would deal with this year.
“From 2020 to today, we’ve had inflation of over 25%. Prices have gone up and many of our people don’t have much, if any, disposable income outside of the essentials,” he said.
“If there are things that we can do as a state to reduce the cost of government on the everyday Georgia citizen, then we ought to pursue that and support policies that will lead to more disposable income for those citizens,” Cannon said.
Athens-Clarke County state legislators discussed the upcoming session, according to the Athens Banner Herald.
Approximately 150 people gathered for breakfast at Epting Events on Barber Street, where state Sens. Frank Ginn and Bill Cowsert, and state Reps. Houston Gaines, Spencer Frye, and Eric Gisler gathered on stage.
“This year is going to be a very consequential election year … one of the biggest political years in Georgia in a long, long time,” said Gaines, who is a candidate for the 10th U.S. Congressional seat.
Gaines noted that this year will see a new governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
His sentiments were echoed by Cowsert, who also noted the looming changes of personalities in the state Senate as one senator is running for governor, five running for lieutenant governor, two running for attorney general, and at least one running for Congress.
There are about 11 of the 56 Senate members running for higher office, and “everybody is a little bit nervous over what that will mean,” said Cowsert, a veteran of nearly 20 years in the Senate who is now a candidate for attorney general.
“There will be a massive upheaval. It’s going to be contentious,” Frye said, noting that a lot of those in the General Assembly will be proposing bills due to it being a political year.
The U.S. House Ethics Committee may consider a complaint against U.S. Rep. Mike Collins’ (R-Jackson) office over staff issues, according to 13WMAZ.
In November, the Office of Congressional Conduct revealed it had received a complaint about Collins and Brandon Phillips, his chief of staff.
Collins and his chief of staff are now under fire in the new year after the Office of Congressional Conduct is investigating whether he hired his girlfriend as an intern and paid her thousands, despite not doing any work.
A report from the OCC alleges that Brandon Phillips, Collins’ chief of staff, hired an intern in 2023 who he was in a romantic relationship, but that she never did any work for the office.
The review from the OCC said Phillips “may have used congressional resources for unofficial or otherwise unauthorized purposes,” which would be a violation of federal law, House rules and standards of conduct by “discriminating unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges by participating in the retention of an employee with whom Mr. Phillips had a personal relationship.”
Collins’ office sent 11Alive the the following statement on the allegations: “This bogus complaint is a sad attempt to derail one of Georgia’s most effective conservative legislators in Congress. Rep. Collins looks forward to providing the House Ethics Committee all factual information and putting these meritless allegations to rest.”
The report alleges that in addition to travel expenses used such as airfare and lodging, the intern, under the title of District Office Paid Intern, was compensated $5,044 in November and December 2023, while paid a little more than $5,200 for the same position a year later in October and November 2024, eclipsing more than $10,000 in just four months of “work.”
However, several testimonies from witnesses corroborated the allegations that she never actually worked for Rep. Collins’ office.
One of the witnesses reported she first became aware of the intern when her name appeared on the Statement of Disbursements of the House for the fourth quarter of 2023, and right away the witness started asking questions among the district staff, such as, “Do we know who this person is?” and the conclusion among staff members in the office was that “nobody had heard of her” and the witness determined that she was never an intern in the district office.
Another witness, when asked directly if she ever worked with this specific intern in any capacity, said: “No, I did not. I’ve never met her … I’ve never spoken to her. I’ve never communicated to her. I’ve never seen her in person.”
Additionally, according to the recommendation by the OCC, that same witness said, “She did not come into the office to do work” when they added that there was no remote work done by District Office Paid Interns and that all interns “came in person.”
Numerous other witnesses interviewed said that they were unaware of her ever working for the office, including one witness saying she was showed a list of interns who worked for the office, and the only one who stood out as unrecognizable was the intern who is in question.
The review from the OCC also alleges that the intern’s LinkedIn shows she worked another full-time job during the same time she allegedly earned more than $10,000 in her intern role with Collins’ office.
Investigators with the OCC also uncovered issues that accused Phillips having spent public funds for personal use.
The OCC recommended that the House Ethics Committee review their findings, including issuing subpoenas to Collins, Phillips, and others involved.
By a unanimous vote, the board [of the Office of Congressional Conduct] found “Brandon Phillips may have used congressional resources for unofficial or otherwise unauthorized purposes.”
“If Mr. Phillips used congressional resources for unofficial or otherwise unauthorized purposes, then Mr. Phillips may have violated federal law, House rules, and standards of conduct,” the board said in its findings. “Mr. Phillips may have discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges by participating in the retention of an employee with whom Mr. Phillips had a personal relationship. If Mr. Phillips discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges, then Mr. Phillips may have violated House rules and standards of conduct.”
The House ethics committee said it would not be issuing any public comment until after its investigation is concluded.
“This bogus complaint is a sad attempt to derail one of Georgia’s most effective conservative legislators in Congress,” a Collins spokesperson said late Monday afternoon. “Rep. Collins looks forward to providing the House Ethics Committee all factual information and putting these meritless allegations to rest.”
Collins currently represents Georgia’s 10th congressional district in the U.S. House, which encompasses Athens-Clarke County. Collins authored the Laken Riley Act, named after the nursing student whose body was found on the University of Georgia campus in 2024.
Collins is emphasizing his ties to President Donald Trump, who signed the Laken Riley Act as one of his first acts as the nation’s 47th president earlier this year.
Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar and two City Council members were sworn in to new terms, according to Grice Connect.
Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees, noting she would preside until the swearing in of members was completed. The invocation was delivered by Pastor Craig Tremble, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Paulette Chavers.
Bulloch County Probate Judge Lorna DeLoach then administered the oath of office to Mayor Jonathan McCollar, District 1 Councilmember Tangie Johnson, and District 4 Councilmember John Riggs, marking the start of a new term for city leadership.
Council next considered the appointment of a mayor pro temp for the next two years, as required by the Statesboro Municipal Code. Shari Barr was nominated, seconded, and re-appointed as Mayor Pro Tem without opposition.
Glynn County Commissioners Wayne Neal and Walter Rafolski were elected as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, by their peers, according to The Brunswick News.
Macon-Bibb County District 1 Commissioner Valerie Wynn was elected Mayor Pro Tem, according to 13WMAZ.
On Tuesday, commissioners voted 5-3 to appoint District 1 Commissioner Valerie Wynn as Macon-Bibb’s newest Mayor Pro Tempore.
Mary Ruth Mullins was sworn in as Mayor of Pine Mountain, according to WTVM.
Mary Ruth Mullins has been sworn in as mayor of Pine Mountain, becoming the first woman to hold the office in the town’s history.
The ceremony was held last week in the Town Hall council chambers and was administered by her cousin, Judge Ron Mullins.
Mayor Mullins grew up in Pine Mountain and lives in the Goodman voting district, named for her third great‑grandfather, Aaron Goodman.
“I accept this responsibility with gratitude for those who paved the way before me and determination to serve every resident with fairness, integrity, and heart,” Mullis said. “Together, we will honor our town’s rich history while working boldly toward a strong, welcoming future for Pine Mountain.”
Flowery Branch will swear in their new Mayor and two city council members tonight, according to AccessWDUN.
While Post 3 Councilman William McDaniel will be sworn in to a second four-year term in Flowery Branch’s government, city officials will swear in Oliver McClellan as their next mayor. McClellan will take over for Ed Asbridge, who did not seek another term in office during last year’s election.
Pete Lena is going to take over as councilor for the Post 5 seat vacated by McClellan in his move to the Mayor’s Office.
Also tonight, Charles Vanderbilt becomes the Flowery Branch councilor for the Post 4 seat once held by Joe Anglin, who did not run for re-election.
The Tybee Alliance filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s Short Term Vacation Rentals ordinance, according to WSAV.
This case pits Tybee Alliance, a group of rental owners and property managers, against the city of Tybee Island. The Alliance argues that the city’s short-term rental rules violate Georgia law, while the city says the rules are legal and necessary to protect neighborhoods.
Tybee Alliance is asking a judge to rule that Tybee Island’s short-term vacation rental ordinances violate state law and cannot be enforced. They argue that Georgia law clearly prohibits cities from requiring registration, conducting routine inspections of residential rental properties or regulating rental prices.
According to the lawsuit Tybee’s rules do all three – by requiring annual permits, extensive property data collection, and proof that rentals are booked at “full market value” for at least 60 days each year.
The city of Tybee is countering that STR’s are commercial uses, not residential, and says state law allows it to license and regulate them for tax and compliance purposes.
Gwinnett County Commissioners voted to approve a $2.53 billion dollar budget for 2026, according to AccessWDUN.
Gwinnett County officials stated that this year’s budget represents an $84.6 million reduction from the 2025 budget. The approved budget includes a $2.15 billion operating budget and a $431 million capital budget, with part of the capital funding coming from the County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program.
“This budget reflects careful stewardship of our resources and a clear focus on the services residents rely on every day,” Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said. “Through the budget process, we prioritized key initiatives and incorporated feedback from our Citizen Budget Review Team and the public to ensure our investments align with community needs.”
Commissioners held a public hearing for the budget on Dec. 2 and accepted comments submitted online through Dec. 31 before making their final decision.
Augusta City Commissioners voted to approve a project list for a Special Purpose Local Option Sale Tax (SPLOST) renewal, according to WJBF.
“I do feel like we need to approve it. We got to approve it. If we don’t approve the SPLOST we have to wait how many more years,” said Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.
The SPLOST’s package’s big ticket item $85 million to create about 300 additional beds at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, as well as tens of millions for infrastructure and quality of life.
“We got some prioritization that we need to make for our sewer expansion for infrastructure improvements and so on,” said Commissioner Don Clark.
In the end, city leaders added $50 million in projects for a final package of $375 million for voters to approve.
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