Mayor and Council - Port Wentworth, Georgia

Gary Norton was born and raised in Port Wentworth. He is married to his wife, Donna, with whom he has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. He was ordained a Deacon at North Salem Baptist Church, where he also served on the Board of Deacon. He also is a former Parent Teacher Association (PTO) President at Chapel-In-The-Gardens PCA School in Garden City, and volunteered on the City Recreation Department and the Youth Recreation Committee. 

Gary works at International Paper in Port Wentworth. 

Gary Norton is Port Wentworth's new mayor

Gary currently serves as the mayor of Port Wentworth. He was elected in 2017 and is serving his second term. He also served on the Port Wentworth city council. He was elected in 2009 and served for 2 years. 

Economy

Plans to address long-standing drainage issues and improve recreation facilities.

- Plans to address long-standing drainage issues and improve recreation facilities.

Public Services

As of September 3, 2025, Gary Norton did not have a website or any information online.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Gary Norton

Gary is currently the mayor of Port Wentworth. He has served as mayor for eight years and previously served two years on the city council.

Plans to prioritize fixing long-standing drainage problems and recreation facilities.

Plans to address long-standing drainage issues.

Plans to encourage small businesses and fix long-standing drainage problems.

Buket Urgen

Facebook

Georgia W. Benton is a 40 year resident of Port Wentworth. She has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Savannah State University.

Georgia is a retired SCCPSS mathematics teacher. She has also worked as a public accountant, bookkeeper, auditor, and notary public.

Here are the candidates for several area 2025 municipal elections

Georgia's campaign for mayor is her first run for public office.

As of September 3, 2025, Georgia W Benton did not have a website or any information online.

Believes the city has neglected to maintain ditches in her community.

- Believes the city has neglected to maintain ditches in her community.

Believes there is a racial disparity in housing development regulations.

- Believes there is a racial disparity in housing development regulations.

Georgia W Benton

Georgia W. Benton is a first-time candidate for public office.

Walter Ley

Advocates for improved infrastructure, including drainage systems.

Believes poor drainage on Saussy Road prevents her from leaving her yard at times.

Tracy Saunders lives in Port Wentworth. She has a master's degree in education from the University of Tennessee. She and her husband, Bill, have 6 adopted children and 9 grandchildren. Saunders has volunteered on the Citizens Input Council and the Zoning Appeals Board. 

Tracy previously worked as an educator for middle and high schools. 

Tracy's campaign for Port Wentworth Mayor is her first entry into politics.

Plans to create food-producing green spaces on city-owned property to provide free fresh produce for citizens.

Plans to create food-producing green spaces on city property to offer free fresh produce to residents.

Supports educated, ethical leadership that values training, professionalism, and transparency.

Supports using social media and technology to improve public access to information and decision-making.

- Plans to create food-producing green spaces on city property to offer free fresh produce to residents.
- Supports educated, ethical leadership that values training, professionalism, and transparency.
- Supports using social media and technology to improve public access to information and decision-making.

As of September 3, 2025, Tracy Saunders’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports using "green infrastructure" like wetland plants, permeable surfaces, and tree canopies for urban water management.

Supports using "green infrastructure", which uses natural systems such as wetlands, permeable surfaces, and tree canopies  for urban water management.

- Supports using "green infrastructure", which uses natural systems such as wetlands, permeable surfaces, and tree canopies  for urban water management.

Instagram

Tracy Saunders

Tracy Saunders has a master's degree in education from the University of Tennessee. She and her husband, Bill, have six adopted children and nine grandchildren. She has been a resident of Port Wentworth since 2017.

As of September 3, 2025, Tracy Saunders did not have a website or any information online.

Supports using natural systems like wetland plants, permeable surfaces, and tree canopies to manage water.

- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor runs the city day to day and prepares the budget each year, meaning that they propose how much funding goes to each city department, including the police department, city parks, transportation, and the fire department. 
- The mayor also hires the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and city department heads, such as City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation. 
- Most Georgia mayors are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 