- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor runs the city day to day and prepares the budget each year, meaning that they propose how much funding goes to each city department, including the police department, city parks, transportation, and the fire department. 
- The mayor also hires the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and city department heads, such as City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation. 
- Most Georgia mayors are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 

Augusta

Georgia

2022 Primary Elections Runoff

Public safety

COVID-19

Public transportation

Education

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Public Services

Transportation & Infrastructure

Economy

Mayor

- Recorder’s Court Judges handle traffic citations by local police departments, DUIs, and violations of county ordinances.
- Recorder’s Courts are only present in some large Georgia Counties. Their purpose is to reduce the number of cases in Magistrate or Municipal Court. In some counties, the Recorder’s Court covers unincorporated areas not covered by a Municipal Court. 
- Jurisdiction and selection of recorder’s court judges vary per county. Some Recorder’s Court Judges are appointed by the Mayor or City Council while others are elected. 

County Judges who handle DUIs, traffic citations, and county ordinance violations. 

Chatham

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Community Involvement

Ethics & Conduct

Recorder's Court Judge

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. The Board of Education is entirely independent from the rest of the county government.
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day.
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Part of the board that governs your county's public school system

Teacher Pay

College & Career Readiness

Access to Education

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

County Board of Education Member

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property and sales taxes, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms in staggered years. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county

Taxes

Public Transportation

Energy & the Environment

County Commissioner

- Georgia Superior Court Judges hear a wide range of criminal cases from petty theft and public drunkenness to murder. Some cases in front of the Georgia Superior Court involve the death penalty. 
- On the civil side, Superior Court Judges hear cases on divorce, titles to land, contract disputes, and premises liability. 
- Superior Court Judges are elected by judicial circuit. Each county surrounding Atlanta has its own judicial circuit, while rural judicial districts typically consist of multiple counties.
- Superior Court Judges are elected to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. The Governor can appoint Superior Court Judges when vacancies arise. 

2022 Georgia candidates

Mayor

2 candidates

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Recorder's Court Judge

2 candidates

County Board of Education Member

2 candidates

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County Board of Education Member

2 candidates

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County Commissioner

2 candidates

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Superior Court Judge

2 candidates

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County Board of Education Member

2 candidates

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County Commissioner

2 candidates

How this impacts you

County Board of Education Member

2 candidates

How this impacts you

County Board of Education Member

2 candidates

How this impacts you