Section 5.14Special elections; vacancies
Plain English: what this chapter 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.
In the event that the office of mayor or councilmember shall become vacant as provided in Section 2.12 of this Charter, the city council or those remaining shall appoint a successor for the remainder of the term, provided that less than six months remain in the unexpired term. In all other respects, the special election shall be held and conducted in accordance with tit. 21, ch. 2, the "Georgia Election Code," as now or hereafter amended.
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_ARTVELRE_S5.14SPELVA
Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTICH_ARTVELRE_S5.14SPELVA
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