Georgia senators kill Buckhead cityhood push
10 GOPers join Dems in opposing Buckhead rebellion
Georgia State Senators on Thursday voted down legislation that would have paved the way for the North Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead to begin the process of forming their own city.
The bill failed on a 23-33 vote, with ten Republicans joining all Democrats in voting against the measure. It was a humiliating defeat for cityhood supporters, as this vote was the closest the movement has come to reaching the governor’s desk.
Buckhead cityhood has been a topic of debate among residents for several years now, but Thursday was the first time the issue reached the floor of either the House or the Senate. It passed a Senate committee Monday on a 4-3 party line vote.
Supporters have argued that the split is necessary because Atlanta leaders are failing to address issues such as rising crime and declining city services. Opponents, meanwhile, have noted that none of the bill’s sponsors reside in Atlanta. They have also warned that it could set a dangerous precedent for other cities.
Opposition to the movement grew throughout the day. Frank Ginn, a Republican from Danielsville who chaired the committee that approved the bill, ended up voting against it on the Senate floor. He said that the legislation was “troublesome” and warned that “Atlanta would die” if Buckhead secedes.
Another Republican Senator said that the movement makes no sense from a political standpoint because Buckhead has voted reliably Democratic in recent elections and therefore could elect a Democratic-controlled city government.
Opponents also found an unlikely ally as the vote grew closer: Gov. Brian Kemp. The Republican’s chief legal counsel this week sent a memo to Senate lawmakers with serious questions about the constitutionality of “Buckhead City.” He expressed concerns about schools, parks and city taxes. Kemp himself has worked to mend relations between the Gold Dome and City Hall.
The bill’s failure means it is now highly unlikely that it will pass this session. But don’t expect the movement itself to die along with it. Supporters believe they now have an ally in Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who backed the movement as a State Senator and was reportedly working behind the scenes to convince skeptical Republicans to vote “yes” Thursday.
Thursday is also the last legislative day before “Crossover Day,” the deadline for all bills to pass the chamber they originated from.
Yea!!!