Teresa Pike Tomlinson (born February 19, 1965) is the 69th Mayor of Columbus, Georgia and was elected on November 30, 2010 with 68% of the vote. On January 3, 2011, she was sworn in as the city's first female mayor.
On May 20, 2014 she was re-elected to a second term with 63% of the vote, making her the first Mayor since the city's consolidation in 1971 to win re-election in a contested race.
Mayor Tomlinson was urged to run for statewide office, specifically the Office of the Governor, in Georgia's 2018 election cycle, but declined to do so, stating "We have important work to finish to achieve our vision for Columbus as we head into our bicentennial. Being a good steward of this amazing city has always been my primary objective. While in the batter's box, I keep my eye on the ball, not on the stands." She has indicated interest in running for higher office in either the 2020 or 2022 election cycle.
Video Teresa Tomlinson
Accomplishments
Teresa Tomlinson has six times been named to Georgia Trend's 100 Most Influential Georgians and she holds a National Security Secret Clearance with the Department of Defense.
During her tenure Columbus, Georgia, was named one of both 2016 and 2017 top fifty Best-Run Cities in America. Her administration reduced crime by 39.3% from its height in 2009, including a 41.2% drop in property crime and a 15% drop in violent crime. Under her leadership, the Columbus Consolidated Government balanced the budget for the first time in 16 years using no reserve funds and provided city and county services at the prudent cost of $1,300 per person. Tomlinson instituted reform in the city's pension plan, saving taxpayers some $39 million and increasing funding of the General Government plan to over 90%, while preserving the valuable Defined Benefit Plan for Employees. Reform was also instituted at the Muscogee County Prison with the Rapid Resolution Initiative, which expedited the disposition of unindicted inmates at the Muscogee County Jail. Columbus was recognized with a Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government Bright Ideas Award, for the Save-A-Pet Plan which reduced the animal euthanasia rate from 80% in 2010 to 20% in 2016 and increased adoption by triple digits. Tax Allocation Districts were adopted to encourage the revitalization of previously blighted areas, including City Village and the Liberty District. New biking/walking trails were constructed, known as the Dragonfly Trails, to create 60 miles of connected trails throughout the city, including trails and streetscapes in previously blighted areas. Over 2 miles of the Chattahoochee River were returned to its natural state, creating the world's longest Whitewater Course in an urban setting. Tomlinson has overseen the renaissance of the city's downtown creating a bustling dining/entertainment district, known as Uptown. Tomlinson has provided constituents with direct access to their mayor through quarterly forums called Let's Talk with the Mayor and social media.
Through Mayor Tomlinson's Save-A-Pet plan that provided for partnerships with animal rescue groups, Columbus received a "No Kill" community status on October 31, 2017, indicating a euthanasia rate less than 10%. Numbers from the Pet Coalition of Muscogee and Harris Counties show that the live release rate of adoptable animals is now a combined 92 percent.
Maps Teresa Tomlinson
Sweet Briar College
In 2015, after the startling announcement of the potential closure of her undergraduate alma mater, Sweet Briar College in Virginia, Mayor Tomlinson joined with thousands of alumnae across the nation to raise $28.5 million in 110 days and convert over $12 million of that to cash in 70 days in order to fulfill the terms of a court approved settlement, which saved the college and kept the doors open, where it thrives today. She was a primary witness in the court case that was successful before the Virginia Supreme Court and was involved in discussions with the Virginia Attorney General's Office regarding the saving of the college. Mayor Tomlinson delivered the 2015 Commencement Speech, thought to be the College's last; but, instead, the speech became an endorsement for liberal arts education, an indictment of the failed leadership of the past and a rallying point for the effort to save the college. Mayor Tomlinson led the Presidential search Committee, which selected Meredith Woo as the 13th President of Sweet Briar College. Mayor Tomlinson is currently the Chairwomen of the Board of Directors of Sweet Briar College.
Early Life & Education
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson moved to Columbus in 1994 from Atlanta and married Wade H. (Trip) Tomlinson, who was raised in Columbus. For 16 years she practiced with the law firm of Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison and Norwood, LLC, where she specialized in complex litigation and was the firm's first female partner. She served from 2006-2010 as Executive Director of MidTown, Inc., a non-profit community renewal organization. Mayor Tomlinson is a 1983 graduate of Chamblee High School in Atlanta, Georgia (where she was inducted into the Chamblee High School Hall of Fame in 2015), a 1987 graduate of Sweet Briar College, in Virginia (where she was a 2011 Distinguished Alumnae), and a 1991 graduate of Emory University School of Law, in Atlanta.
Videos
- Solutions to Chronic Homelessness, Message in Lieu of Sermon, St. Luke United Methodist Church, Columbus, Georgia September 16, 2013
- 2015 State of the City Address, Columbus, Georgia Trade Center, January, 2015
- Sweet Briar College Commencement Address, May 15, 2015
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Rosa Parks Women of Courage Acceptance Speech, Columbus, Georgia Trade Center, March 23, 2017
Publications
- In Georgia, It's the NRA and the Legislators vs. the Police
- Opinion: Don't mistake racism for politics
- The Kind of Democrat Who Can Win in the South--or Anywhere
- Why the Republican Brand Is So Strong Where I Live
- The Conservative Plan to Rewrite the Constitution, and Yes, It's a Thing
- Generals are playing a vital role now, Atlanta Journal Constitution, August 12, 2017
- Sweet Briar College Commencement Address, Teresa Pike Tomlinson, May 17,2015
National Television Appearances
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson appeared on MSNBC's AM Joy on April 23, 2017. Mayor Tomlinson explained how the close race for Health Secretary Tom Price's former congressional seat showed that Georgia could become a purple state.
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson appeared in an interview with Geraldo Rivera on Fox News Channel's Hannity on September 10, 2017. Mayor Tomlinson discussed the severity of Tropical Storm Irma.
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson appeared with former Senator Tom Coburn on MSNBC's AM Joy on October 8, 2017. The topic under discussion was Senator Coburn's proposed plan for a Convention of the States to amend the United States Constitution. Subsequent to that appearance on AM Joy, Esquire magazine gave the win in that debate to Mayor Tomlinson, noting that Coburn was "chased up a tree" by Mayor Tomlinson.
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson appeared with founder and President of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), Robert Greenstein, on MSNBC's AM Joy on January 7, 2018. The discussion was centered around the Mayor's prior Am Joy appearance on October 8, 2017 regarding Constitutional Conventions.
Mayor Teresa Tomlinson appears with former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams on MSNBC's AM Joy on March 3, 2018. The discussion was regarding the Delta Airline and NRA dispute.
References
External links
- Official website
- http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article149681354.html
- http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/teresapiketomlinsonsweetbriarcommencement.htm
- http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/push-to-amend-constitution-and-give-more-power-to-states-1065626179549
Source of article : Wikipedia
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