ATLANTA (January 14, 2020) | Sen. Ben Watson (R – Savannah) and Rep. Jesse Petrea (R – Savannah) released the following statement on proposed legislation that would create the City of Chatham Islands:
“During the last legislative session, we allowed for a thorough vetting of the issue of incorporation by the people of the Chatham Islands of Wilmington, Whitemarsh, Talahi and Oatland.
“We announce today that we will not pass any measure allowing for a vote on incorporation of the Chatham Islands. The citizens of these islands have expressed their objection to incorporation. Indeed, over 50 percent of the citizens of Oatland Island alone have expressed objection.
“The proposed cityhood measure fails to reach unanimous approval from all islands involved. Accordingly, there will be no movement on this bill during the 2020 legislative session.”
# # # #
Sen. Ben Watson is Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. He represents the 1st Senate District, which includes portions of Chatham County, all of Bryan County, and most of Liberty County. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.7880 or by email at ben.watson@senate.ga.gov
Representative Jesse Petrea represents the citizens of District 166, which includes portions of Bryan and Chatham counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 and currently serves as Chairman of the Human Relations & Aging Committee and Vice Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee. He also serves on Appropriations Subcommittee on Health, Game, Fish & Parks, Health & Human Services and Public Safety & Homeland Security committees.