Mayors gather at College Park for Ladies First: Meet the Mayors 2026.

At the 3rd Annual 'Meet the Mayors of Georgia' event in College Park, several Black women mayors discussed their paths to office and municipal priorities such as data centers, small business support and youth engagement.

Many people attended the 3rd Annual "Meet the Mayors of Georgia" event at McKenzie Office Park in College Park. The gathering was hosted by the Georgia Real Estate Investors Association. Municipal leaders who took part included Riverdale Mayor Evelyn Wynn-Dixon, Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda W. Patrick, and South Fulton Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs. Lithonia Mayor Shameka Reynolds was not in attendance. Event highlights: - The program began with icebreakers for the all-female, all-Black group of mayors and moved into discussions about why they sought office, local priorities, and advice for others. - Evelyn Wynn-Dixon said she has served as Riverdale mayor for 18 years and described overcoming personal hardship as a factor in her decision to run. - Carmalitha Gumbs described returning to family after her mother's death, reassessing her life, and stepping into leadership even though being mayor was not planned. - LaRhonda W. Patrick said experiences at Georgia State and working at the Georgia Assembly motivated her to run and that engaging youth through internships and boards is a priority. - The mayors discussed data centers, noting community concern about siting and tax incentives and emphasizing the need to educate residents and weigh incentives carefully. - Small business support was addressed: South Fulton identified about 8,900 unlicensed businesses and held an amnesty day waiving back taxes under $10,000, while Warner Robins focuses on promoting local businesses through events and simplifying permit processes. Summary: The event brought local leaders together to share personal stories and municipal priorities, including data center policy, small business compliance, and youth engagement. Several mayors described concrete actions in their cities, such as South Fulton’s amnesty day and Warner Robins’ outreach and internship efforts. Undetermined at this time.