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Macon-Bibb commissioners ask state lawmakers to make term lengths uniform; measure passes 6-3
Summary
The Macon-Bibb County Commission voted 6-3 to ask the local legislative delegation to introduce legislation amending Section 10E of the county charter to make term limits equal for the mayor and commissioners. The request does not itself change the charter; the General Assembly would need to act.
The Macon-Bibb County Commission voted 6-3 on Jan. 7 to ask the county’s legislative delegation to introduce legislation in the Georgia General Assembly amending Section 10E of the Macon-Bibb County Charter to provide equal term limits for all members of the governing body.
The request, sponsored and moved by Mayor Pro Tem Clark, asks the General Assembly to consider changing the charter so that the mayor and county commissioners would serve under the same term-limit structure. "This body cannot change our charter in this fashion, but the General Assembly can," Clark said, urging colleagues to send the local delegation a formal request.
Clark framed the measure as a policy change rather than a personal one. "It is not about a certain person or a certain persons. It is about a policy to make sure that all of us are awarded the equal opportunities to serve our neighbors should they choose to send us back," he said. Clark also told the commission the proposed change would still include term limits: "...we will all only be awarded 3 terms and that's it." The resolution requests the delegation introduce legislation this session; it does not itself change the charter.
Commissioners debated whether the measure would take effect immediately if the General Assembly approved it. Clark answered that the effective date would be set by the state legislature: "Each piece of legislation considered by the General Assembly has an effective date ... and this would probably be no different." Commissioner Wynne asked whether the change could be set to take effect only in a later term; Clark confirmed that is possible and would be determined by the General Assembly.
Opponents urged caution. Commissioner Stewart said he opposed the change and urged colleagues and the state delegation to vote it down: "I highly recommend that this body votes no and I highly recommend that our state legislation votes no as well," he said, citing concern about locking future administrations into a fixed structure. Commissioner Bronson argued keeping the existing staggered term structure preserves checks and balances between the mayor (the executive officer) and the commission.
Supporters, including Commissioner Bailey, said equal term lengths could improve continuity and reduce delays in project completion by aligning leadership timelines.
After discussion the resolution was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Clark, seconded by Commissioner Wilder, and adopted on a recorded vote of 6 in favor and 3 opposed. The resolution directs the county’s legislative delegation to consider introducing the charter amendment in the coming session; any change would require approval by the General Assembly and an effective date would be set in that legislation.
The commission’s precommission meeting record shows the body advanced the item to the consent agenda for the 6 p.m. commission meeting for formal placement on the record.
