​Woodstock Mayor Announces Intention To Run for Commission Chair​

WOODSTOCK, GA — Current Mayor of Woodstock, Donnie Henriques, has announced his intention to run for the Chairmanship of the Cherokee County Commission in the Republican primary in 2022. The seat is held by longtime County Commissioner Harry Johnston.

“I am excited to announce my candidacy for Chairman of Cherokee County Commission,” Henriques said in a news release. “We need leadership at the county-level that is focused on bringing Cherokee together to do what is right for our community. The future is too important and we simply cannot afford to waste opportunities, much less taxpayer money, on petty political fights. I want to take my proven track record of no-nonsense leadership to all of Cherokee County, to prove that together we can get the job done.”

Henriques is serving his fourth consecutive term as mayor of Woodstock. He was first elected in 2005, will serve through Dec. 31. Prior to first becoming mayor in 2005, he was a Woodstock City Council member from 2000-2003.

During his 16 years of leadership as mayor, Woodstock has experienced population growth while becoming an award-winning destination city known for its music, culture, restaurants, and businesses. Whether it was his efforts to establish the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater Amphitheater, improving traffic and parking, or recruiting Woodstock Arts and providing them a home with a large theater for performances, Henriques has left his mark on the city.

A decorated Vietnam Air Force veteran, Henriques has long been an advocate for military veterans and their families. In 2019, he authored his first fact-based fiction novel “Social Actions: A Vietnam Story” inspired by his experiences in Vietnam. Throughout his years as a resident of Woodstock and continuing through his terms in public office, Henriques has been an active volunteer for a wide number of community organizations including the William G. Long Senior Center.

He is a proud father of three children and four grandchildren. Henriques retired from Northside Hospital-Cherokee, but is active in the community as a member of American Legion - Post 316 and member of Transfiguration Catholic Church. Henriques has a bachelor of science degree from Louisiana State University in New Orleans.