Atlanta — Jan 16, 2026
(ATLANTA – January 16, 2026) The Atlanta Regional Commission swore in five new board members at its meeting on Jan. 14. Three are mayors and two are citizen members.
ARC’s 41-member board oversees the agency’s efforts to improve quality of life in metro Atlanta and plan for the region’s successful future. The new members are:
- Connie Alsobrook, Mayor, City of Conyers
- Lynn Deutsch, Mayor, City of Dunwoody
- Ann Tarpley, Mayor, City of Hampton
- Archie Emerson, ARC Citizen District 2 (parts of Clayton and Fulton counties)
- Jim Brooks, Citizen District 10 (parts of Fulton and Gwinnett counties)
Justin O’Dell, an attorney from Marietta, was also elected as a citizen member representing parts of Cobb and Douglas counties. He was unable to attend the Board meeting and will be sworn in at a later date.
“We are excited to welcome our new board members to the regional planning table. Their fresh perspectives will help inform our ongoing work supporting the Atlanta region,” said ARC Board Chair Andre Dickens, the Mayor of Atlanta. “We know that we can count on them to maintain a regional mindset as they make important decisions that impact their communities and those around them.”
The three mayors sworn in were chosen to represent all the mayors of their respective counties on the ARC Board. Emerson and Brooks were elected by a vote of the elected officials on the ARC Board.
In other news at Wednesday’s Board meeting, Chairman Dickens announced that the Board’s 2025 slate of officers would remain intact for 2026. Those officers are:
- Vice-Chair Michael Caldwell, Mayor, Woodstock
- Secretary Alfred John, Chair, Forsyth County
- Treasurer Nicole Hendrickson, Chair, Gwinnett County
The ARC Board consists of the county commission chair from each of the 11 member counties, the mayor and a council member from the city of Atlanta, and a mayor from each of the 11 counties except for Fulton, which has two mayoral representatives, one from North Fulton and one from South Fulton. The board also includes 15 citizen members selected by the board’s elected officials and a non-voting representative from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 11-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties as well as the city of Atlanta and 75 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention and planning resources on key regional issues.
Contact Name: Paul Donsky
Contact Phone: 470-626-3869
Contact Email: [email protected]
