Viewpoints

"When we approach advocacy as stewardship, we reframe the conversation from lobbying for special treatment or defending turf to honoring our responsibility to the people who call our cities home."

"A new year is a good time to recommit to serving our communities with dedication and passion. For Georgia’s city leaders, it is also a reminder of the responsibility we share to serve our communities with vision, integrity, and an eye toward the future."

"Many of our leaders—past and present—have called for unity, only to abandon the idea when it becomes inconvenient or politically risky. Yet we often vote against the very thing we most need: strong leadership that helps us come together."

Text of Gov. Brian Kemp's 2026 State of the State address delivered on January 15, 2026.

"If we want stronger communities, healthier civic life, and a more prosperous state, we need to recover the idea that cities aren’t just places we live; they’re places we love."