CHARTER
Plain English: what this part covers
The Charter is Ashburn's founding document, kind of like the city's constitution. It was passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2001. It sets up a council of a mayor and five councilmembers, a hired city manager who runs day-to-day operations, the municipal court, how elections and vacancies work, and the city's taxing, budgeting and borrowing powers. Anything the Charter doesn't cover is handled by city ordinance or state law.
- Council = mayor + 5 councilmembers (Sec. 2.10)
- 4-year terms; 12 months' city residency required before the election (Secs. 2.11, 2.27)
- Elections on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November; mayor + 2 seats on the 2002/2006/.../2026 cycle; 3 seats on the 2004/2008/.../2024 cycle (Sec. 5.11)
- Vacancy with less than 6 months left = appointment; otherwise special election (Secs. 2.12, 5.14)
- 3 councilmember votes to pass an ordinance; 4 to override a mayoral veto; veto must be written within 3 days (Sec. 2.21)
- Special meetings need 24 hours' notice to members (Sec. 2.19)
Editor's note— Printed herein is the city's Charter as set forth in 2001 Ga. Laws, page 4075. Amendments to the act are indicated by parenthetical following amended provisions. The absence of a history note indicates that the provision remains unchanged from the original act. Obvious misspellings have been corrected without notation. For stylistic purposes, a uniform system of headings, catchlines and citations to state statutes has been used. Additions made for clarity are indicated by brackets.
State Law reference— Municipal corporations generally, § 36-3-1 et seq.; incorporation of municipal corporations, O.C.G.A. § 36-31-1 et seq.; powers of municipal corporations generally, O.C.G.A. § 36-34-1 et seq.; powers relating to administration of municipal government generally, O.C.G.A. § 36-34-2; The Municipal Home Rule Act of 1965, O.C.G.A. § 36-35-1 et seq.; home rule for municipalities, Ga. Const. art. IX, § II, ¶ II.
What's in here
Questions folks ask
How long is a term for mayor or city council?
Four years, and each official serves until a successor is elected and qualified.
Who is allowed to run for mayor or city council?
You must have lived in the City of Ashburn for 12 months before the election, keep living in the city while you serve, and be registered and qualified to vote in city elections.
When are city elections held, and which seats are up?
Elections fall on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Counting every four years from 2002, the mayor and two council seats are elected together (so 2026 is one of those years). Counting every four years from 2004, the other three council seats are elected.
Does a candidate need a majority to win, or is there a runoff?
The Charter says the candidate with the most votes (a plurality) wins the mayor's race, and the candidates with the highest vote totals win the council seats. The section heading says 'majority,' but the text says plurality.
Do candidates run as Democrats or Republicans?
No. City elections are nonpartisan: parties can't hold primaries for city offices, and no party labels appear next to candidates' names.
What happens if a council seat or the mayor's office comes open mid-term?
If less than six months are left in the term, the remaining council fills it by appointment. Otherwise a special election is held under the Georgia Election Code.
Does the mayor get a vote, and can the mayor veto things?
The mayor presides and votes only to break a tie or when the mayor's vote would make up a majority of three. Passing anything takes three councilmember votes. The mayor can veto in writing within three days, and four councilmembers can override the veto at the next regular meeting.
Who actually runs the city day to day?
The city manager is the chief executive and administrative officer. The manager supervises departments, prepares the budget and attends council meetings. Councilmembers must deal with city staff through the manager and can't give orders to employees. Hiring or firing a manager takes four councilmembers, or the mayor plus three.
Can the council call a special meeting?
Yes. The mayor or two councilmembers can call one, with at least 24 hours' notice to the other members. Only the business stated in the call can be taken up.
What is the most the municipal court can fine me?
Generally up to a $1,000 fine or 180 days in jail, unless state law allows something different. Contempt of court is capped at $200 or ten days.
How do I appeal a municipal court decision?
You can seek a writ of certiorari from a judge of the Superior Court of Turner County.
Can a mayor or councilmember be removed from office?
Yes, for the causes listed in state law (O.C.G.A. Title 45). Removal happens either after a public hearing before the council, held at least ten days after written notice, or by order of the Turner County Superior Court on a complaint from any Ashburn resident.
Can I see the city's audit?
Yes. The city must have an annual independent audit by a CPA, and copies of the audit report are available to the public at printing cost.
This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. The official code is on Municode and at City Hall. Our copy is from April 30, 2026.
Online: https://jamesburgessleads.com/city-code/PTICH
Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTICH
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