he Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) is pleased to announce the appointments of the GMA Legislative Policy Council (LPC) and the Federal Policy Council (FPC) for the 2024-2025 term. These appointments highlight Georgia’s city leaders who provide exceptional dedication to advocating for the interests of Georgia’s cities at both the state and federal levels.

The GMA Legislative Policy Council is an advisory body comprised of six policy committees, charged with setting the Association’s legislative priorities and advocacy efforts in Georgia. With over 50 members, the LPC serves as the focal point for GMA’s advocacy efforts under the Gold Dome during the state legislative session and beyond by building relationships that connect state legislators back to municipal priorities.

The GMA Federal Policy Council is a leadership and advisory body charged with guiding the Association’s federal priorities and advocacy efforts. Serving as the bridge between Georgia cities and Capitol Hill, the FPC comprises over 40 city leaders across Georgia’s 14 congressional districts who build and maintain relationships with their representatives to advance municipal priorities on issues before Congress. 

These city leaders strengthen their influence at both the state and federal levels by reaching out to state legislators and congressional officers to explain the impacts of proposed legislation and rules on Georgia’s cities. Through testimony from LPC and FPC members, lawmakers receive direct local input on bills. Each member’s experience and insight are crucial to guiding and solidifying the Association’s position on policy issues that impact all of Georgia’s cities. 

This impressive group of city leaders bring a wealth of knowledge and dedication to GMA’s policy councils. This expertise will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for the interests of cities across Georgia,” said Larry Hanson, CEO & Executive Director of GMA. “The work of the LPC and FPC is essential in ensuring that our cities are well-represented and that their voices are heard. These leaders connect state and federal legislators with municipal priorities and ensure that we remain #CitiesUnited under the Gold Dome and on the Hill.” 

The Georgia Municipal Association is always on the side of cities and advocates for them at both the state and federal levels. Advocacy work is one of GMA’s foundational cornerstones and an integral part of its mission. The LPC and FPC ensure that cities are united in their efforts to improve the quality of life for all residents in Georgia’s cities. 

The 2024-2025 Legislative Policy Members are as follows: 

Chair:

Bianca Motley Broom Mayor, City of College Park – Chair 

Members:

Regina M. McDuffie, City Manager, City of Brunswick - Community Development Chair

Michael Chidester, Mayor, City of Byron - Transportation Chair

Janie Reid, Council , City of Eatonton - Environment & Natural Resource Chair

Eric Wilson, Mayor, City of Forsyth - Public Safety Chair

Cleatus Phillips, City Manager, City of Newnan - Municipal Government Chair

Rusty Paul, Mayor, City of Sandy Springs - Transportation Chair

Lisa James, Mayor Pro Tem, City of St. Marys - Community Development Chair

Anthony Ford, Mayor, City of Stockbridge - Municipal Government Chair

Skip Henderson, Mayor, Columbus Consolidated Government - Revenue & Finance Chair

Deborah Walker-Reed, City Clerk, City of St. Marys - City Clerks

Kelly Girtz, Mayor, Athens-Clarke County 

Garnett L. Johnson, Mayor, Augusta 

Justin Kirnon, Vice President of Government Relations, Capital City Public Affairs 

Buddy Duke, Mayor, City of Adel 

Chad Warbington, Commissioner, City of Albany 

Mike Jewell, Gas Director, City of Covington 

Annalee H. Sams, Mayor, City of Dalton 

Marcia Hampton, City Manager, City of Douglasville 

Lynn Deutsch, Mayor, City of Dunwoody 

Sam Couvillon, Mayor, City of Gainesville 

Douglas Hollberg, Mayor, City of Griffin 

Roxanne Whitaker, Mayor, City of Harlem 

Jonathan Herschell, City Manager, City of Hartwell 

Tray Larry Hicks, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Hartwell 

Shelly Jackson Berryhill, Commissioner, City of Hawkinsville 

Carlos Duffey, Mayor, City of Jackson 

Jeffrey M. Todd, City Attorney, City of LaGrange 

Fred P. Perriman, Mayor, City of Madison 

William F. Bruton, City Manager, City of Marietta 

John Howard, Mayor, City of Monroe 

Lisa Clarke Hill, Council , City of Moultrie 

Randall Walker, Mayor, City of Perry 

Gabrielle Nelson, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Port Wentworth 

Craig McDaniel, Mayor, City of Rome 

Keith Turman, Mayor, City of Royston 

Van R. Johnson, Mayor, City of Savannah 

Joe Shearouse, Director of Policy, City of Savannah 

Jason Ray Weaver, Mayor, City of Screven 

Brandon S. Hembree, Mayor, City of Sugar Hill 

Paul Radford, City Manager, City of Sugar Hill 

James Burnette, Mayor, City of Suwanee 

Linnea Miller, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Suwanee 

Julie B. Smith, Mayor, City of Tifton 

Vince Williams, Mayor, City of Union City 

Scott James Matheson, Mayor, City of Valdosta 

Tom Dickson, Mayor, City of Varnell 

Michael-Angelo James, Mayor, City of Waycross 

Colin Ake, Council , City of Woodstock 

Michael Caldwell, Mayor, City of Woodstock 

Andrea Gibby, Mayor, City of Young Harris 

Isaiah Hugley, City Manager, Columbus Consolidated Government 

Lester Miller, Mayor, Macon-Bibb County 

Kurt Ward, Mayor, Town of Braselton 

The 2024-2025 Federal Policy Council Members are as follows:

Chair

Andrea Gibby, Mayor, City of Young Harris 

Members

Jordan Johnson, Commissioner, Augusta

Jim Gilvin, Mayor, City of Alpharetta

Cosby Johnson, Mayor, City of Brunswick

Jessica Payton, Commission Chair, City of Cedartown

Brian K. Mock, Mayor, City of Chamblee

Bianca Motley Broom, Mayor, City of College Park

Andrew Parker, City Administrator, City of Dalton

Patti M. Garrett, Mayor, City of Decatur

Warren Simmons, Councilmember, City of Doraville

Deana Holiday Ingraham, Mayor, City of East Point

Hattie Portis-Jones, Councilmember, City of Fairburn

Kenneth Sumpter, Mayor, City of Fort Gaines

Douglas Hollberg, Mayor, City of Griffin

ChaQuias Miller-Thornton, City Manager, City of Jonesboro

Victoria Jones, Councilmember, City of Lawrenceville

Fred P. Perriman, Mayor, City of Madison

Joseph Goldstein, Councilmember, City of Marietta

Sandra Vincent, Mayor, City of McDonough

Lisa Clarke Hill, Councilmember, City of Moultrie

Andrew Hixson, Councilmember, City of Norcross

Ted Meeker, City of Peachtree City

Randall Walker, Mayor, City of Perry

Karen Williams, Mayor, City of Pooler

Gabrielle Nelson, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Port Wentworth

Earl Henderson, Councilmember, City of Ringgold

Jamie Doss, Commissioner, City of Rome

Rusty Paul, Mayor, City of Sandy Springs

Jason Ray Weaver, Mayor, City of Screven

Susan D. Wilkinson, Councilmember, City of Smyrna

Anthony Ford, Mayor, City of Stockbridge

Brandon S. Hembree, Mayor, City of Sugar Hill

Paul Radford, City Manager, City of Sugar Hill

James Burnette, Mayor, City of Suwanee

John David Stallings, Mayor, City of Thomaston

Julie B. Smith, Mayor, City of Tifton

Matt Donaldson, Mayor, City of Twin City

Brian Jones, Councilmember, City of Union City

Vince Williams, Mayor, City of Union City

Andrea Gibby, Mayor, City of Young Harris

Jennifer Scott, City Manager, Town of Braselton

Kurt Ward, Mayor, Town of Braselton

Joyce Denson, Mayor, Town of Toomsboro

For more information about the Georgia Municipal Association, the Legislative Policy Council, and the Federal Policy Council, please visit www.gacities.com.