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Teresa Tomlinson

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Teresa Tomlinson
69th Mayor of Columbus
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 9, 2019
Preceded byJim Wetherington
Succeeded bySkip Henderson
Personal details
Born (1965-02-19) February 19, 1965 (age 59)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationSweet Briar College (BA)
Emory University (JD)
WebsiteCampaign website

Teresa Pike Tomlinson (born February 19, 1965) is an American politician and attorney. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She was elected and served as the 69th Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, in 2010.[1][2] On January 3, 2011, she was sworn in as the city's first female mayor.[3]

On May 20, 2014, she was re-elected to a second term with 62% of the vote, making her the first mayor since the city's consolidation in 1971 to win re-election in a contested race.[4]

Early life and education

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In 1983, Tomlinson graduated from Chamblee High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sweet Briar College in Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the Emory University School of Law.[5][6][7]

Career

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In 1991, Tomlinson began her career at the firm Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison and Norwood, as an attorney, and in 1998, she became a partner, there.[8]

In May of 2015, Tomlinson gave the graduation speech at Sweet Briar College weeks after the college’s leadership had voted to close the college.[9][10] In June of 2015, she and others were appointed to the newly configured Sweet Briar Board of Trustees by a settlement agreement approved by the Bedford County, Virginia Circuit Court.[11] Tomlinson was elected Chair of the Board and served in that position until July 2018 helping to restructure the College.[12]

On January 7, 2019, Tomlinson joined the law firm Hall Booth Smith, P.C., as a partner specializing in complex litigation, crisis management, and strategic solutions.[13] On February 8, 2024, Teresa Tomlinson was lead trial counsel for the Plaintiff Christina Necole Vazquez Klecha who received a jury award of $20.7 million for the wrongful death of her father, George ("Bick") Hale Bickerstaff, III.[14] The case involved the shooting death of Mr. Bickerstaff immediately following a dispute regarding land use and sale. Mr. Bickerstaff was 60 years old at the time he was fatally shot. The case was tried in Columbus, Georgia, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. [15]

Political career

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During her tenure, Columbus, Georgia, was named one of the top fifty Best-Run Cities in America in both 2016 and 2017.[16][17] Her administration reduced crime by 39.3% from its height in 2009, including a 41.2% drop in property crime and a 15% drop in violent crime.[18][19] Under her leadership, the Columbus Consolidated Government balanced the budget for the first time in 16 years using no reserve funds[20][21] and provided city and county services at the cost of $1,300 per person.[22] Tomlinson instituted reform in the city's pension plan, increasing funding of the General Government plan to over 90%, while preserving the Defined Benefit Plan for Employees.[21][23][24][25] She also instituted reform at the Muscogee County Prison with the Rapid Resolution Initiative, which expedited the disposition of unindicted inmates at the Muscogee County Jail.[26][27][28] Tax Allocation Districts were adopted to encourage the revitalization of city districts, including City Village and the Liberty District.[29][30] New biking/walking trails were constructed, known as the Dragonfly Trails, to create 60 miles of connected trails throughout the city, including trails and streetscapes in previously blighted areas.[31] Over two miles of the Chattahoochee River were returned to its natural state, creating the world's longest Whitewater Course in an urban setting.[32] Tomlinson has overseen the renaissance of the city's downtown creating a dining and entertainment district, known as Uptown.[33][34]

Tomlinson has written opinion pieces for The Daily Beast and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.[35][36][37][38][39]

Tomlinson completed her second term on January 6, 2019.[40][41] Tomlinson ran in the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent Senator David Perdue in the 2020 election but lost to Jon Ossoff, who later won the runoff election against Perdue.[42][43]

Personal life

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Tomlinson moved to Columbus in 1994 from Atlanta and married Wade "Trip" Tomlinson, who was raised in Columbus.[44] Since leaving office, she has been a Partner at the law firm of Hall Booth Smith, PC.[45]

References

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  1. ^ "Columbus runoff results, Tomlinson wins mayor's race". Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  2. ^ "Columbus mayor offers advice to women seeking success". The Newnan Times-Herald. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  3. ^ "Mayor Tomlinson is guest speaker for Women's Equality Day". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  4. ^ "Tomlinson wins reelection with 62 percent of vote". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  5. ^ Giles, Roslyn (December 2, 2010). "Mayor-Elect Teresa Tomlinson gets up close and personal". WTVM. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  6. ^ "Wade H. Tomlinson". Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "Wade H. Tomlinson | Pope Mcglamry". Pope Mcglamry. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  8. ^ Communications, Emmis (May 10, 2017). Atlanta Magazine. Emmis Communications. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  9. ^ https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/teresapiketomlinsonsweetbriarcommencement.htm
  10. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/05/16/a-commencement-speech-that-challenges-sweet-briars-leaders-to-reverse-course/
  11. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/agreement-reached-to-keep-sweet-briar-open-needs-court-approval/2015/06/20/6c9c43e4-179e-11e5-9ddc-e3353542100c_story.html
  12. ^ https://nonprofitquarterly.org/sweet-briar-names-new-board-new-president-and-new-chair-teresa-tomlinson/
  13. ^ "Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson announces her plans when she leaves office". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  14. ^ Federal Jury Awards Harris County Man's Daughter More Than $20 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit, WRBL, Feb. 12, 2024, https://www.wrbl.com/news/federal-jury-awards-harris-county-mans-daughter-more-than-20-million-in-wrongful-death-lawsuit/; $20.7M Verdict Reached in Georgia Wrongful Death Case Argued as Self-Defense, The Daily Report, Feb. 16, 2024, https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2024/02/16/atlanta-attorney-leads-purported-self-defense-claim-to-20-7m-wrongful-death-verdict/; Atlanta Jury Delivers $20.7M Verdict in Wrongful Death LawsuitJurimatic (by Exlitem), Feb 19, 2024, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/atlanta-jury-delivers-207m-verdict-wrongful-death-lawsuit-xbhic.
  15. ^ "VAZQUEZ-KLECHA v. BICKERSTAFF et al". Justia Dockets & Filings. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Columbus in top third of nation's 'best-run' cities, website reports". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  17. ^ "Columbus makes top 50 "Best-Run Cities in America" list". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  18. ^ Gunn, Olivia. "City of Columbus reports crime rate at lowest level in 30+ years". Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "2018 State Of The City Highlights" (PDF). Columbus Consolidated Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "Mayor Tomlinson recommends leaner budget for 2018; unveils major changes". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  21. ^ a b "FY 18 Budget Letter" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  22. ^ "Columbus in top third of nation's 'best-run' cities, website reports". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  23. ^ "FY 18 Budget Letter" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  24. ^ "Mayor Tomlinson recommends leaner budget for 2018; unveils major changes". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  25. ^ wrbljoeyripley (May 9, 2016). "Mayor says pension reform paying off, how changes affect city workers". WRBL. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  26. ^ "Council votes to overturn prison lieutenant's rehire". Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  27. ^ "Plan aims at moving criminal cases, reducing jail population". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  28. ^ "'Rapid Resolution' has paid rapid dividends for city". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  29. ^ "TAD referendum breezes to victory". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  30. ^ "City proposing two new TADs for Midtown redevelopment". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  31. ^ "Richard Bishop hired to develop The Dragonfly trail system in Columbus". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  32. ^ "U.S. Largest Urban Whitewater Course Opens in Columbus". Georgia Public Broadcasting. June 3, 2013. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  33. ^ "Columbus: Roaring Ahead - Georgia Trend". www.georgiatrend.com. May 30, 2014. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  34. ^ "Columbus: Gearing Up - Georgia Trend". www.georgiatrend.com. June 2007. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  35. ^ "Opinion: Don't mistake racism for politics". myajc. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  36. ^ "From the Atlanta Journal Constitution, 2017-08-12: Generals are playing vital civilian role now". Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  37. ^ Tomlinson, Teresa (June 30, 2017). "Why the Republican Brand Is So Strong Where I Live". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  38. ^ Tomlinson, Teresa (August 21, 2017). "The Conservative Plan to Rewrite the Constitution, and Yes, It's a Thing". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  39. ^ Tomlinson, Teresa (February 22, 2018). "In Georgia, It's the NRA and the Legislators vs. the Police". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  40. ^ "Mayor-elect Skip Henderson looks forward to being full-time mayor". May 24, 2018. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  41. ^ "City leaders bid farewell to Mayor Tomlinson, Councilor Baker at last meeting of 2018". ledger-enquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  42. ^ Wooten, Nick (May 1, 2019). "Former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson formally announces 2020 U.S. Senate bid". Ledger-Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  43. ^ MayorTeresaTomlinson (May 16, 2015), Mayor Teresa Tomlinson's Sweet Briar College Commencement Speech 2015, archived from the original on July 17, 2022, retrieved September 5, 2017
  44. ^ "Mayor-Elect Teresa Tomlinson gets up close and personal". Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  45. ^ "Teresa Pike Tomlinson | Partner | Columbus Attorney". Retrieved May 22, 2024.
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