Canton Mayor Won't Seek Re-Election

CANTON, GA — The race to become Canton's next mayor will be a wide open contest, as the longtime incumbent will not be seeking re-election. Gene Hobgood announced the news at the City Council's Jan. 17 meeting.

Hobgood shared his decision at the tail end of his 2019 State of the City Address, noting this annual speech "will be my last." The mayor said he's spent the last 11 years working on two primary goals for Canton: reducing the city's debt and revitalizing the downtown area.

He noted he never intended to stay in office for as long as he has, but added those two initiatives took longer to address than he anticipated.

"I believe these two goals have been met," he said, adding Canton's long-term debt has been slashed by $30 million since he began his first term and its downtown is now a flurry of activity.

Thursday's address allowed Hobgood to recount some of the accomplish the Cherokee County seat experienced in 2018, including purchasing the historic Canton High School, renaming a portion of Riverstone Boulevard to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, rolling out major upgrades at Burge Park, installing an all-abilities playground at Etowah River Park, installing a sidewalk along Brown Industrial Parkway, repaving 23 streets, continuing the process of making long-needed improvements to its Waste Water Treatment Plant, passing a ban on smoking in public areas in downtown Canton and allowing open containers Friday and Saturday evenings in the Historic Downtown District.

"I want to thank the citizens of Canton for your support and confidence in me over these last years," Hobgood said, adding the path of the city's is fixed and Canton is "well on our way" to success.

Qualifying for the office of mayor, as well as for the Wards 1, 2 and 3 City Council seats will be held Aug. 19-21 at Canton City Hall. The 2019 municipal election will be Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Hobgood was first elected as Canton's mayor in 2007. He was re-elected two additional four-year terms in 2011 and 2015. Before serving in municipal government, Hobgood was also elected twice as the Cherokee County tax commissioner and as the sole county commissioner.

Hobgood is a graduate of Cherokee High School and Reinhardt College. He began his post-secondary career as an educator, teaching biology and chemistry at Cherokee High School. According to the city's website, Hobgood is a certified real property appraiser and a real estate broker.

He and wife, Elly, have two children and five grandchildren. This is a developing story, so return to Patch for updates.

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