City Clerk
The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for keeping an accurate record and minutes of all meetings of the City Council. The Clerk is custodian of the city seal and is required to affix the seal to all official documents of the city, and to attest the signatures of the Mayor and City Manager. The City Clerk's responsibilities also include maintenance of contracts, ordinances, resolutions and agreements, and oversight of the adoption and publication of the city's Code of Ordinances.
The City Clerk is the Election Supervisor and reporting officer for all Campaign Contribution Disclosure and Financial Disclosure Reports for candidates and public officer as required by the Ethics in Government Act and State Ethics Commission. A copy of all Campaign Contribution Disclosure and Financial Disclosure Reports are kept on file in the City Clerk's Office.
Open record requests, in accordance with Georgia's Open Records Act, are submitted to the office of City Clerk located at 205 Lawrence Street, 4th Floor.
Records requests may also be sent by fax to (770) 794-5523 or email.
The next General Election for Mayor and Council - November 3, 2009
Marietta elects a mayor and seven council members. The mayor and council appoint the City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney, and the municipal court judge and solicitor.
Terms for all municipal offices are four years, with elections being held every four years. Elected officials take office the first Monday in January after the election. Any person desiring to become a candidate shall file written notice during the advertised qualifying period.
OFFICES (nonpartisan races):
- Mayor (elected city-wide)
- Seven (7) Council seats (elected by Ward)
- Seven (7) Board of Education seats (elected by Ward)
QUALIFYING FEES:
- Mayor.................................................. $540
- Council................................................ $390
- Board of Education............................ $203.22
QUALIFYING PERIOD:
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (closed 12:00 to 1:00 for lunch)
Marietta City Clerk's Office
205 Lawrence Street
Marietta, Georgia 30060
(770) 794-5526
QUALIFICATIONS
Mayor
To be eligible for the office of Mayor:
- Shall be at least 21 years of age.
- Shall meet the requirements of a qualified voter of the city, as prescribed by state law.
- Shall not be ineligible for public office pursuant to code section 45-2-1 of the O.C.G.A. The residency requirement for a candidate for Mayor shall be 12 months residency within the municipality.
- Shall not be eligible who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, unless such person's civil rights have been restored.
- Shall continue to reside within the city limits for which elected during term of office.
Council
To be eligible for the office of Council:
- Shall be at least 21 years of age.
- Shall meet the requirements of a qualified voter of the city, as prescribed by state law.
- Shall not be ineligible for public office pursuant to code section 45-2-1 of the O.C.G.A.
- Shall be a bona fide resident of the ward from which he seeks election for the same period of time required by code section 45-2-1 of the O.C.G.A. for residency of municipal officers within the city, which is 12 months residency.
- Shall not be eligible who have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, unless such person's civil rights have been restored.
- Shall continue to reside within the city ward for which elected during term of office.
Board of Education
To be eligible for the office of Board of Education a person:
- Has to be a citizen of the United States;
- Has to be at least 21 years of age;
- Has to be registered to vote as prescribed by state law; and
- Has to meet the residency requirements set forth in the Marietta City Code Section 2.202(e), which reads:
"The residency requirements for a person seeking to be elected to the board of education shall be:
(1) In the case of a general election, the person shall be a resident of the ward for which the office is sought on or before July 1 next preceding the date of taking of office and, in addition, the person shall be a resident of the City of Marietta on or before January 1 next preceding the date of taking office; and
(2) In the case of a special election, the person shall be a resident of the ward for which the office is sought for a minimum of six (6) months next preceding the date of taking of office and, in addition, the person shall be a resident of the City of Marietta for a minimum of 12 months next preceding the date of taking of office; provided, however, that the residency requirements for 1993 shall be the lessor of the requirements set forth in this paragraph or the effective date of this law pursuant to Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1973 (C)."
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
A declaration of intention to accept campaign contributions form must be filed with the Marietta City Clerk's Office prior to accepting campaign contributions.
CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
Campaign Committees must register with the Secretary of State.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE REPORTS
Please refer to www.ethics.georgia.gov for additional information regarding campaign contribution reporting or call the City Clerk's Office - (770) 794-5526.
(Reporting Periods for an Election Year)
March 31
June 30
September 30
October 25
December 31
CAMPAIGN SIGNS
Temporary political campaign signage (including posters and advertisements) limited to 32 square feet per sign area and there shall be no more than 2 sign faces per road frontage. Any political signage that does not meet these requirements shall be required to obtain a sign permit and follow those restrictions set forth for that type of sign. All signs must be removed within 5 days of the last day that the candidate's name or that issue appears on a ballot for a primary, runoff, general or special election. All such signs are prohibited (a) within any public right-of-way, (b) on any public property or building, (c) on any private property unless the owner thereof has given permission (Marietta City Code 714.03E).
It shall be unlawful for any person to place campaign posters, signs, and advertisements on any property zoned for commercial or industrial uses if the placement of such campaign posters, signs, and advertisements conflicts with any zoning laws or ordinances (O.C.G.A. 21-2-3(5)).
City of Marietta Elections are conducted by the Cobb County Board of Elections, 736 Whitlock Ave., Suite 400, Marietta, Georgia, 30064. To find out what precinct you are in as a voter or where you will vote, contact the Cobb County Board of Elections at 770-528-2581 or www.cobbelections.org.
POLLING PLACES
The polls will be open from 7:00am to 7:00pm, and the following shall be the official polling places within each ward:
Ward 1:
1A
Marietta Sixth Grade Academy
340 Aviation Road
Marietta, GA 30060
Ward 2:
2A
Marietta High School
1171 Whitlock Avenue
Marietta, GA 30064
2B
Hickory Hills Elementary School
500 Redwood Drive
Marietta, GA 30064
Ward 3:
3A
Marietta Middle School Gym
121 Winn Street
Marietta, GA 30064
Ward 4:
4A
Grace Community Church
770 Kennesaw Avenue
Marietta, GA 30060
4B
Tommy Nobis Center
1480 Bells Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30060
4C
Murray Arts Center at Mount Paran Christian School
2250 Stilesboro Road
Kennesaw, GA 30152
Ward 5:
5A
Zion Baptist Church
165 Lemon Street
Marietta, GA 30060
5B
Turner Chapel Cathedral
492 North Marietta Parkway
Marietta, GA 30060
Ward 6:
6A
Lockheed Elementary School
1205 Merritt Road
Marietta, GA 30062
6B
Mt. Paran Church of God North
1700 Allgood Road
Marietta, GA 30062
Ward 7:
7A
The Mansour Center
995 Roswell Street
Marietta, GA 30060
Residents of the City of Marietta who are qualified to register to vote for this election, and are not currently registered, may register to vote through the close of business Monday, October 5, 2009. Persons may register to vote at any of the designated places for registering Cobb County residents or the Marietta City Clerk's Office. If you have moved into, out of, or within the city limits of Marietta and have not notified the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration, please do so no later than October 5, 2009 in order that you may vote at your proper precinct.
Early Voting (formerly known as Absentee Voting) will open to the public on October 9, 2009 in the Elections and Registration office located at West Park Government Center, 736 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, GA 30064. You may vote in person in our office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During Early Voting, anyone eligible to vote in the election may vote in person without stating a reason. The last day to Early Vote in person will be Friday, October 30, 2009.
Voters who cannot vote in person may apply to Vote-by-Mail by submitting an application to the Cobb County Elections Office at P.O. Box 649, Marietta GA 30061 or by faxing an application to 770-528-2458. Applications are available at www.CobbElections.org. Mail-in ballots must be received through the mail by 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
Advance Voting will be available Monday, October 26, 2009 through Friday, October 30, 2009 during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at West Park Government Center, 736 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, GA 30064 and from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the following satellite locations:
- Kennesaw Community Center
2749-2753 Watts Rd.
Kennesaw, GA, 30144
- Powder Springs City Hall
4488 Pineview Dr.
Powder Springs, GA 30127