CITY OF MABLETON
The City of Mableton was approved by the voters in a referendum on the General Election Ballot on November 8, 2023.
First City Election – The referendum was the result of the General Assembly’s passage of House Bill (HB) 839, which set the boundaries of the City, established city council districts, and laid out the powers of the Mayor and Council. The law also established March 21, 2023, as the date for a special election for the first Mayor and Council Members.
IMPORTANT DATES
January 2: First Day to Apply for Absentee Ballot
January 18-20: Candidate Qualification Period
February 21: Last day to register to vote
February 27: Early Voting begins and Absentee Ballots mailed
March 21: Election Day
April 18: Run-off Election Day
UPCOMING COMMUNITY FORUMS
MIC and Austell Community Task Force (ACT) are planning to host multiple Candidates Forums before the election on March 21, 2023. We intend to invite the candidates who are running for office in the City of Mableton. Specific dates and times will be announced soon.
LIST OF CANDIDATES (as of 1/24/23): To view the list of candidates running for office in the City of Mableton, click here.
ELECTION DETAILS
Terms & District Map – According to House Bill (HB) 839, the first Council will serve staggered terms and will represent six Council districts shown on this map. Three of the initial Council members will serve from March 2023-December 2025, and the other three will serve from March 2023-December 2027. Mayor and City Council members from Districts 1, 3, and 5 will serve 4-year term from March 2023-December 2027. City Council members from Districts 2, 4, and 6 will serve 2-year terms from March 2023-December 2025. After that initial Council, they will serve four-year terms. The election is on a non-partisan basis. Elected officials cannot serve more than three consecutive terms. The City Council will take office following the certification of the election results of March 21, 2023 or run-off election on April 18, 2023.
For more details on qualifying, polling places, voting by mail, and other information, click here.
City Services – Proponents of the City of Mableton and the feasibility study prepared in accordance with state law put forth four services that the new City would offer: waste management; code enforcement; planning, zoning, and economic development; and parks and recreation. The legislation establishing the city does not name these services, but instead includes the list of all services that all cities are authorized to provide.
Once elected, the Mayor and City Council will determine which services to deliver to its citizens – and whether to deliver the services directly or through a contract with the County, another local government, or a vendor. Throughout the transition period, the County will continue to provide services and functions except for those that the Mayor and Council are allowed to discharge according to HB 839 or as agreed upon between the County and City. The level of service provided by the County after the transition period will depend upon the mutual agreement of the Board of Commissioners, Mayor, and City Council.
Transition Period – The Governor may appoint five persons to serve as “interim representatives” or “transition team” for the city. However, that group cannot enter into binding agreements or expend public funds. The members of this group will be ineligible to qualify for election to the new city council. State law allows for a transition period up to 24 months for the transition of government functions from the county to the new municipal corporation.
City residents remain a part of Cobb County and will continue to be represented on the Cobb County Commission by District 4 Representative Monique Sheffield. Cobb County Government officials have publicly stated that they are eager to assist new city appointees and officials to ensure smooth transition to the new city government.
MIC’s Position – The Mableton Improvement Coalition has maintained a neutral stance on the City of Mableton incorporation question since inception of the movement. View our official statement here.
FAQ
Q: Was MIC the main organization that pushed for the City of Mableton?
A: No, MIC is a non-partisan, all volunteer organization made up residents who are dedicated to the redevelopment of Mableton. We are not the government. We advocate for the Mableton community and keep our members informed. From the outset of the cityhood movement, MIC’s position has been neutral. Nowhere on our website, social media, or meeting minutes will you find us espousing a position of approval or opposition to the City of Mableton. However, since the referendum was passed by the voters, it is our position that residents should come together to support the new City regardless of their position prior to the election. The time to have litigated the boundaries or any other provisions of the city charter should have been in the years BEFORE the legislation was passed by the Georgia State Legislature. To be clear, MIC and the Austell Community Task Force presented the only community forum that included both proponents and opponents of cityhood.
Q: Who pushed for the city of Mableton?
A: The organization that explored Mableton cityhood was originally named the South Cobb Alliance. The organization that campaigned for passage of the ballot referendum was named MabletonYes.
Q: In reviewing the MIC website, I noticed that NONE of the Board of Directors is trying to be part of the City Council or the Mayor. Is there a reason for this?
A: MIC is a non-partisan organization. MIC board members who run for political office would have to resign from MIC’s Board of Directors).
Q: Who were those that proposed the Mableton city boundaries?
A: It is unclear to us who actually drafted and proposed the boundaries for the city of Mableton. We know then State Representative, Erica Thomas, carried the legislation in the Georgia state legislature. However, how the boundaries were determined is unclear to us. We do, however, know that ALL of our locally elected state legislators either voted or had the opportunity to vote for or against the referendum to establish the city of Mableton.
To view how State House Representatives and State Senators in the Georgia Legislature voted on the City of Mableton bill, click here and look under ‘Votes.’ To view who sponsored the City of Mableton bill? Click here.
Q: Regarding transparency to those pushing for the city, what are their business affiliations when it comes to builders, developers, and the like? This is important to discourage corporate nepotism and convoluting the motivations in leading our new city.
A: The pro-cityhood people would have to answer this question. You may visit the South Cobb Alliance and the MabletonYes websites.
Other websites to view: Cobb County’s Mableton City website