Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Statesboro City Council Election 2026

1 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 3 candidates running. Updated Oct 6, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to vote Check your registration

Deadline to request an absentee ballot (Oct 23): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council District 2

1 seat

Only voters who live in Statesboro City Council District 2 vote in this special election, which fills the unexpired term of the vacant seat.

Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Governor
- Rick Jackson · Republican
- Keisha Lance Bottoms · Democrat
Official candidate list, in its order
U.S. Senate
- Mike Collins · Republican
- Jon Ossoff · Democrat
Official candidate list, in its order
Also statewideLieutenant Governor · Secretary of State · Attorney General · Commissioner of Agriculture · Commissioner of Insurance · State School Superintendent · Commissioner of Labor · Public Service Commissioner District 3 · and 1 more
U.S. HouseDistrict 12
State SenateDistrict 4
State House of RepresentativesDistrict 160 (61% of Statesboro residents) · District 158 (27%) · District 159 (12%)
Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations

In Georgia a candidate needs more than half the vote. If no one gets it, the top two meet in a runoff on Dec 1.

Official voter lookup State voter guide Vote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Data centers4 sourced facts

Where it standsCouncil allowed data centers by ordinance in June 2026 and approved a Burkhalter Road rezoning in August; a special use permit is still required.

What's on the tableThe council would decide any special use permit application for a data center, and whether to change the data center ordinance.

On June 2, 2026 the council passed an ordinance on technological facilities and data centers by a 3-1 vote. WSAV · Jun 2, 2026
Under the ordinance a data center requires a special use permit, which must come before the City Council. Grice Connect · Aug 18, 2026
On August 18, 2026 the council rezoned about 26.49 acres at 6539 Burkhalter Road from R-4 high-density residential to Office and Business. Grice Connect · Aug 18, 2026
On May 5, the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners voted to extend a moratorium on data center proposals through the end of 2026. WSAV · Jun 2, 2026

02Property taxes and the city budget3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council kept the millage rate at 8.625 in September 2026 instead of the proposed 9.6, and will draw on reserves.

What's on the tableThe council will set future millage rates and decide whether to change its policy on the minimum general-fund balance.

The city had proposed raising the property tax rate from 8.625 to 9.6 mills before the council voted 4-0 to keep it at 8.625. Statesboro Herald · Sep 16, 2026
City Manager Charles Penny said keeping the rate would leave the city about $1.4 million short, which could come from fund balance. Statesboro Herald · Sep 16, 2026
Penny said the general-fund balance had fallen below the council's own guideline of 25% of current-year budgeted expenditures, to around 20%. Statesboro Herald · Sep 16, 2026

03Fire department funding4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city lost county fire funding and a federal grant; it shelved a monthly fire service fee in April 2026.

What's on the tableThe council will decide how to pay for the Statesboro Fire Department, including how to use new sales tax revenue.

The split with the county government over fire department funding removed about $2.7 million the city would have received. Statesboro Herald · Sep 16, 2026
A three-year federal grant to hire 12 firefighters expired in August, a loss of $703,000 in annual funding. Statesboro Herald · Sep 16, 2026
The council shelved the idea of a monthly fire service fee in April. Statesboro Herald · Sep 16, 2026
Five months of Floating Local Option Sales Tax revenue supplied $1.4 million. Statesboro Herald · Sep 16, 2026

04Housing and poverty2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe mayor and a council member have named affordable housing as a priority for the current term.

What's on the tableThe council will decide what city projects, partnerships and land-use approvals address housing availability.

Mayor McCollar said affordable housing is a priority for his new term, with an emphasis on creative solutions beyond what the city has pursued in the past. Grice Connect
Councilmember Tangie Johnson said she wants to tackle housing availability, such as an affordable housing project in District 1. WSAV · Jan 6, 2026

2 notes on these statements

The District 2 seat has been vacant since Paulette Chavers resigned from the council at its May 19, 2026 meeting. Grice Connect · Jun 6, 2026

The District 2 contest appears only on the ballots of voters who live in Council District 2. Grice Connect · Oct 5, 2026

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should Statesboro handle data centers?
2. When city revenue falls short, what should the council do about the property tax rate?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted3 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Statesboro is runWho runs Statesboro, and what it costsWho the city manager is, council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.

Key dates

Last day to register to voteCity of StatesboroOct 5, 2026
Early voting begins (Bulloch County Annex, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)Grice Connect · Oct 5, 2026Oct 13, 2026
Saturday early voting, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Grice Connect · Oct 5, 2026Oct 17, 2026
Saturday early voting, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Grice Connect · Oct 5, 2026Oct 24, 2026
Deadline to request an absentee ballotGrice Connect · Oct 5, 2026Oct 23, 2026
Early voting endsGrice Connect · Oct 5, 2026Oct 30, 2026
Election Day, polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.Grice Connect · Oct 5, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Shari Barr, Ginny Hendley, Tangie Johnson, Jonathan McCollar, John Riggs1 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The City of Statesboro operates under the Council-Manager form of government, established by a 1999 Charter amendment. City of Statesboro
The mayor is elected at large and the five council members are elected by district. City of Statesboro
All elections are nonpartisan, and terms are four years with three of the members elected every two years. City of Statesboro
The special election winner will serve the remainder of former Council member Paulette Chavers' term, which expires in 2027. Grice Connect · Aug 21, 2026
The mayor broke a 2-2 council tie on August 18, 2026. Grice Connect · Aug 18, 2026

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