“So help me, God” may become an optional phrase when the Marietta mayor and City Council members take their oaths of office at the end of this year.
The 7-0 decision was made recently by the Marietta City Council, amending the city’s Charter section 2.8.
This motion to omit the phrase from the oath was made by Councilman Andy Morris and seconded by Councilwoman Michelle Cooper Kelly.
The mayor and all seven City Council members will face re-election in November if they choose to run again.
This city charter change is not final unless approved by the Georgia State Legislature and signed by Gov. Nathan Deal.
Couched in House Bill 577 that was introduced March 13, this bill will provide a new charter for Marietta if it’s approved.
The change in the oath states: “The oath of office as administered to the councilmembers and mayor shall be as follows: ‘I do solemnly swear that I will well and truly perform the duties of the city and that I will support and defend the charter thereof as well as the Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia and of the United States of America, as well as any other oath required by O.C.G.A. Section 45-3-1, et seq.’ A member shall take the oath of office prior to January 1 of the year of election. At the discretion of any individual councilmember, a councilmember may have the words ‘So Help Me God’ added to that member’s individual oath of office.”
The four-page bill also revises provisions for the mayor pro tem and presiding officer, organizational meetings and the board of lights and waterworks.
Information: legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20172018/HB/577.
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