Marietta becomes first city in Cobb to establish council term limits
Marietta’s elected officials took their eyes off of millage rates and stormwater management and potholes at its Wednesday night meeting, instead turning the focus to their own seats.
The Marietta City Council approved term limits for councilmembers in a vote of 6-1, with longtime councilman Philip Goldstein as the lone dissenter.
They approved three terms of four years — so 12 years maximum — for all council seats.
More than 80 percent of Marietta voters said 'yes' on a non-binding referendum to create term limits in November.
A city spokeswoman said the change will not go into effect until Jan. 1 with the next council.
The motion does not take into account the time already served by current council members. That means anyone currently on the board is eligible to serve three more terms.
Mayor Steven Tumlin released a statement saying he was pleased with the Council's decision.
According to research by the Georgia Municipal Association, this is the first city in Cobb to approve term limits.
Amy Henderson, a GMA spokeswoman, said most municipalities prevent mayors and councilmembers from serving more than two consecutive terms.
According to the group’s research, these are the other metro Atlanta cities that have approved term limits:
- Alpharetta
- Atlanta (mayor only)
- Brookhaven (mayor only)
- Dunwoody (mayor only)
- Milton
- Peachtree City
- Roswell (mayor only)
- Snellville
In other Marietta news:
About the Author
Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.
