The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is welcoming new faces to its board. Following a January meeting, the ARC inducted five new members, among them Conyers Mayor Connie Alsobrook. Mayor Alsobrook joined alongside two other mayors and two citizen members, with the ARC's 41-member governing body tasked with addressing the region's growth and quality of life issues. As per the City of Conyers' official news release, the ARC Board Chair and Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, expressed eagerness over the latest addition, stating, "We are excited to welcome our new board members to the regional planning table."
Representing a vast area, the ARC Board consists of a diverse group of officials, from county commission chairs of 11 member counties to council members from Atlanta and mayors across various counties. Elected by their peers, they reflect a commitment to regional perspectives in their decision-making. Specifically, "The three mayors sworn in were chosen to represent all the mayors of their respective counties on the ARC Board," as detailed in the announcement by the City of Conyers. In a vote by the ARC Board's existing elected officials, two citizen members, Emerson and Brooks, took their new roles.
The Atlanta Regional Commission serves the 11-county Atlanta area including key urban hubs and over seventy cities. Tasked with catalyzing regional progress, the organization centers leadership and planning contribute effectively to dealing with prominent regional issues. Among the newly sworn-in notables were Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, ARC Citizen District representatives Archie Emerson and Jim Brooks, and Hampton Mayor Ann Tarpley.
In addition to the regional leaders, the ARC Board also seats 15 citizen members who are carefully chosen by the board's current members. Significant yet with no voting power, there's also a non-voting delegate from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs involved, ensuring the state's community agenda is heard. The City of Conyers' release captured the moment with a photo showing new board members being sworn in, from left to right: Conyers Mayor Connie Alsobrook, Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, Archie Emerson, Jim Brooks, and Hampton Mayor Ann Tarpley with ARC Board Affairs Manager Charissa White officiating the ceremony.
