College Park Mayor Bianca Motley Broom was elected president of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) during the association's annual convention in Savannah on Sunday, June 22. Joining her in leadership are Young Harris Mayor Andrea Gibby (first vice president), Suwanee Mayor Jimmy Burnette (second vice president), Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson (third vice president), and Madison Mayor Fred Perriman (immediate past president).
Motley Broom has served successively as third, second, and first vice president on the GMA Board of Directors. She has also chaired the organization’s Legislative Policy Council and Federal Policy Council. As GMA president, she will lead the organization’s 537 member cities in advocacy, policy development, and municipal support efforts throughout the year.
"Being elected president of GMA is an incredible honor," said Mayor Motley Broom. "I’m excited to help city leaders see GMA as their force multiplier, to bridge gaps, dream big, and deliver tangible results for their communities."
In her acceptance speech, Mayor Motley Broom reminded delegates that “leadership isn’t just about policies, budgets, or governance; it’s also about the very human experiences that shape us,” adding that positive leadership demands vulnerability because “a story never told can never serve others.” Even when those stories involve hardship, she said, officials must “dig deep” and convert personal challenges into fuel for public service, becoming “the best versions of ourselves for the people we serve.”
She closed with a brisk call to action: “Positive leadership starts right here, today—human, honest, hopeful…let’s choose hope, choose positivity, choose people and change lives.”
Mayor Motley Broom made history as the first African American and first woman elected mayor of College Park. Her leadership has brought transformative initiatives to her city, including sustainable infrastructure improvements, new housing developments like the micro-home South Park Cottages, and a regional greenway trail initiative along the Flint River. Her passion for youth mentorship, senior support programs, and community development have defined her mayoral tenure.
A conflict resolution specialist, Motley Broom is a registered arbitrator, civil mediator, and domestic relations mediator in Georgia. She is a full-time neutral with the largest mediation and arbitration firm in the Southeast. From 2017-2019, she served as a part-time judge in Fulton County Magistrate Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was a trial attorney and litigator for nearly fifteen years.
“Mayor Motley Broom exemplifies the best of servant leadership,” said GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson. “She leads with integrity, courage, and a deep commitment to innovation and excellence. Her vision and voice will help cities across Georgia rise to meet today’s challenges and create stronger futures for the residents they serve. We are proud to have her as our president.”