Donovan Giardina is from Holly Springs, GA and currently lives in Kennesaw. He’s holds a bachelor's degree in public management and policy from Georgia State University and is pursuing a doctorate degree in criminal justice at Georgia State University. He also volunteers with the Downtown Development Authority and helps manage the Kennesaw Farmers Market. 

Linkedin

Donovan works as a research parter at the United States Attorney's Offices and a graduate research and teaching assistant at Georgia State University, where he is also a doctoral candidate in criminal justice. He previously worked as a research assistant at Georgia State University Housing and a tour guide with the Georgia State University Welcome Center. 

Who's running? Dozens qualify for Cobb's local elections | Elections ...

Donovan's campaign for Kennesaw City Council Member, Post 3 is his first entry into politics.

Supports reducing the business licensing process for small or first-time entrepreneurs by eliminating steps for select types of businesses, offering programming to increase tax literacy for new business owners, connecting entrepreneurs with organizations like the KDDA, and offering onboarding help for first-time small business owners.

Believes the business licensing process in Kennesaw is "invasive and unnecessarily burdensome" for small or first-time entrepreneurs, and supports changing it to ease these burdens.

Supports eliminating regulatory steps for certain businesses.

Believes Kennesaw's business licensing process is "invasive and unnecessarily burdensome" for small and first-time entrepreneurs, and supports eliminating steps for select types of businesses to ease starting a business.

Wants to eliminate steps for select types of businesses to make it easier to start a business.

- Believes the business licensing process in Kennesaw is "invasive and unnecessarily burdensome" for small or first-time entrepreneurs, and supports changing it to ease these burdens.
- Supports eliminating regulatory steps for certain businesses.
- Wants to eliminate steps for select types of businesses to make it easier to start a business.

Economy

As of September 3, 2025, Donovan Joseph Giardina’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Wants to revitalize downtown to boost meals, shopping, and gathering.

- Wants to revitalize downtown to boost meals, shopping, and gathering.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports installing speed tables in residential and high-foot-traffic zones.

Supports creating protected alternative transportation lanes where feasible.

Supports adding protected alternative transportation lanes when possible. 

Supports ensuring all sidewalks are connected.

Supports sharing public safety strategies with neighboring cities and universities to create a unified regional response to crime.

- Supports installing speed tables in residential and high-foot-traffic zones.
- Supports adding protected alternative transportation lanes when possible. 
- Supports ensuring all sidewalks are connected.
- Supports sharing public safety strategies with neighboring cities and universities to create a unified regional response to crime.

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

LinkedIn

Donovan Joseph Giardina

Donovan Giardina grew up just down the road in Holly Springs, GA and has called Kennesaw home for the past four years. He’s a doctoral candidate in Criminal Justice at Georgia State University, where he focuses on improving how government programs serve our communities. Donovan earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Management and Policy from Georgia State and has worked with agencies like the Department of Community Supervision and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on projects to make programs more effective and efficient. He also consults with the Northern District of Georgia’s ATL Court Program, helping support innovative approaches to public safety.

Donovan is a graduate research assistant at Georgia State University, where he is also a doctoral candidate in criminal justice. He consults for the Northern District of Georgia's ATL & RISE alternative to incarceration courts, helping support innovative approaches to public safety. 

Supports installing speed tables in residential and high-foot-traffic zones, creating protected alternative transportation lanes where feasible, and ensuring all sidewalks are connected.

As of September 3, 2025, Donovan Joseph Giardina did not have a website or any information online.

Rundown of Cobb municipal election candidates - Cobb Courier

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy. 
- City council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city council members in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 