SB210: SB210 Board of Commissioners of Douglas County; filling of vacancies on the board of commissioners; change provisions

Douglas County's governing law currently addresses how vacancies on the county commission are filled. This bill rewrites Section 6 of that law to set out a detailed process depending on whether a vacancy is temporary or permanent. For temporary vacancies, the chairperson's seat is filled by a majority vote of elected board members, while other temporary vacancies go through an application and nomination process advertised by the county clerk, with a public vote at a board meeting. The bill bars certain applicants, including those who don't meet residency rules, have pending litigation against the county, have felony convictions or pending felony indictments, or fail to disclose their political party or independent status. For permanent vacancies, the chief judge of the Superior Court of Douglas County appoints a successor if six months or less remain in the term; otherwise a special election is held under Georgia's election code. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it and would apply to vacancies occurring after that date.

• Creates a formal application and nomination process for filling temporary board vacancies other than the chairperson's seat, run by the county clerk with public advertising.
• Requires the chairperson's temporary vacancy to be filled by majority vote of the remaining elected board members.
• Bars applicants for temporary vacancies who have pending litigation against the county, felony convictions or pending felony indictments, or who fail to disclose party or independent status.
• Directs the chief judge of the Superior Court of Douglas County to appoint a successor for permanent vacancies with six months or less left in the term.
• Requires a special election under Georgia's election code (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapter 2) for permanent vacancies with more than six months remaining.
• Sets the law to take effect upon the Governor's signature and apply only to vacancies occurring afterward.

Douglas County commissioners and candidates seeking to fill vacancies, the county clerk who must run the application process, the chief judge of the Superior Court of Douglas County, and Douglas County voters who may participate in special elections for board vacancies.

The bill changes how quickly and by what method Douglas County fills empty commission seats, replacing any prior process with a structured public application system, added disqualifications for applicants, and a clearer split between court-appointed and election-based replacements depending on how much term time remains.

• Section 1 revises Section 6 of the 1952 Douglas County commission act to distinguish temporary and permanent vacancies.
• Temporary chairperson vacancies are filled by majority vote of elected board members; other temporary vacancies require public advertising, applications, and a board vote.
• Applicants for temporary vacancies are disqualified if they lack residency, have pending litigation against the county, have felony convictions or pending indictments, or fail to state party or independent status.
• Permanent vacancies with six months or less remaining are filled by appointment from the chief judge of the Superior Court of Douglas County.
• Permanent vacancies with more than six months remaining are filled through a special election under Georgia's election code (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapter 2).
• Section 2 makes the Act effective upon the Governor's approval and applies it to vacancies occurring on or after that date.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-20Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-19Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Donzella James (D, SD-028)Primary sponsor

• Douglas County government
• county commissioner vacancies
• local elections
• special elections