The Chief Executive Officer of a county is an elected position that leads the Executive Branch for the county. They have final say on local legislation and great influence over the direction in which their county moves in a wide variety of areas. So much of governing in Georgia happens at the county level, so this position is especially important for your county. Chief Executive Officers also represent their county when interacting with higher forms of government, such as the Georgia General Assembly. Though each county looks a little different, the governing that happens at the county level can have significant impacts on the daily lives of residents in that county. Examples of governing on this level include:

• Budgeting for the county
• Land use planning and urban development
• Zoning for schools and other resources
• Enacting laws at county level
• Completing executive duties

This role does not exist in every county, and there has been discussion for years about reimagining the structure of county government in a way that does not include a county CEO.