Newnan Mayor Keith Brady was elected president of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) during the association’s annual meeting in Savannah on June 23. He is the first official from Newnan to serve as president of GMA, which was created in 1933.
Brady, who was first elected in 1994, has served on the GMA board of directors for several years. He has been involved in a number of study committees and task forces, and has served on GMA’s board of trustees for insurance and employee benefit services. He has also been a part of GMA’s Legislative Policy Council (LPC) for several years and most recently served as chairman of the group.
“City officials around the state value Mayor Brady’s leadership,” said GMA Executive Director Lamar Norton. “He understands the issues cities face and has played an important role in legislative efforts on behalf of cities for many years. We look forward to his continued leadership in this new role.”
In his acceptance speech, Brady encouraged city officials to look beyond day-to-day responsibilities.
“The key is for us to look at ourselves as designers, architects of a product that if done with excellence, enhances the lives of those that use it,” he said.
Brady also challenged cities to partner with the Georgia Forestry Commission to plant trees. For the past 13 years, Brady has planted trees with kindergartners in Newnan. He encouraged other city officials to participate in the Forestry Commission’s “Making the Shade” program.
“This program is designed to create healthier, shaded playgrounds at elementary schools throughout Georgia, the benefits of which are cleaner air and water, energy savings, creating a sense of place at school and a calming landscape,” Brady said. “It is my firm belief that efforts like these will help Georgia’s cities connect to our children and help create the type of communities they will want to continue to live in.”
