ATLANTA – State Representative Erica Thomas (D-Austell) today announced that the Georgia House of Representatives passed House Bill 839, legislation which would create a ballot referendum for area residents to consider incorporating the City of Mableton. HB 839, sponsored by Rep. Thomas, will now head to the Senate for consideration.
“I want to thank my colleagues in the Georgia House of Representatives for showing their bipartisan support of this resident-led cityhood effort,” said Rep. Thomas. “This community is so tight-knit that residents already believe that Mableton is a city. Residents have fought long and hard to establish a local government for themselves, and I am proud to carry this legislation on their behalf.”
If HB 839 is signed into law, local residents would have the opportunity to vote on incorporating the city through special election no later than November 2022.
The proposed city’s council would consist of a mayor and six council members, and the mayor and city council members would each serve four-year terms. The city council members would be elected through a nonpartisan municipal general election held biennially in odd years. The city council would be authorized to appoint a city manager to act as the chief executive and administrative officer of the city. The city charter would also create a municipal court presided over by a chief judge, and the charter would enable the creation of one or more community improvement districts within the city.
For more information on HB 839, please click here.
Representative Erica Thomas represents the citizens of District 39, which includes portions of Cobb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 and currently serves as House Minority Caucus Vice Chairman. She also serves on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Juvenile Justice, Retirement and Science and Technology committees.
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