Mayor

The Mayor is elected the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Dahlonega. They possess all of the executive and administrative powers granted to the city under the Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia, and all the executive and administrative powers contained in the City Charter.

The Mayor presides at all meetings of the council, votes as a member of the council only at such times as are necessary to break a tie or deadlock of the council, to be the official head of the City for the service of process and for ceremonial purposes, has the power to administer oaths and to take affidavits, sign all written contracts entered into by the council on behalf of the City and all other contracts and instruments executed by the City which by law are required to be in writing, sees that all laws and ordinances of the City are faithfully executed, and performs other duties as may be required by law, the City Charter or ordinance or as otherwise directed by the City Council.

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Department Contacts

JoAnne Taylor
JoAnne Taylor
Mayor

JoAnne Taylor

Mayor, City of Dahlonega

Residing in Dahlonega with her husband Ken since 2004, Mayor Taylor is an Alumna of Leadership Lumpkin Class of 2009. She has previously served the community as a volunteer with the Lumpkin County Literacy Coalition, Secretary of the Joint Development Authority of Dawson, Lumpkin and White Counties, Vice Chair of the Development Authority of Lumpkin County, and as a Corporate Board member with Connect North Georgia. She is Past President of the Community Helping Place, a volunteer mentor in the Lumpkin County School System since 2015, and has also served as Chair of the North Georgia Interfaith Ministry Jeremiah’s Place. She received Kids First recognition from Family Connection in 2018. She has served in City government since 2017. She serves on the collective boards at Georgia Municipal Assocation which govern investments made for liability coverage, workman’s comp coverage, and retirement investments for GMA constituent cities. She is also the 1st Vice President for the Northeast Region of GMA, representing our region to state-wide interests for purposes of grants, programs, and legislative impact. She also serves on the Lumpkin County Board of Health. All net earnings from her role as Mayor are donated to local charities.

After a 32-year career with IBM, she retired from her position of Vice President in the Global Telecommunications Industry. She holds a BA in English Literature from Mercy College and is a Certified Sales Executive. Her extensive career included positions in global executive and line management, as a consultant and practice principal to the Utility industry, and in detailed technical roles.

Along with her service to our community she also enjoys time with her family, reading, observing birds in their natural habitat, singing choral music, traveling, golf and baking bread.
Mayor Taylor is very appreciative of the opportunity to serve in a community that she loves!