Smyrna city councilman resigns to take job in Atlanta mayor’s office

Feb. 4 — Smyrna City Councilman Austin Wagner has resigned from his position after accepting the position of deputy chief of staff to Andre Dickens, the new mayor of Atlanta.

Wagner, who represents Ward 2, announced his resignation during the Smyrna City Council Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday evening.

“I wanted to thank everyone… It was an honor to work with all of you… It’s been a great experience,” Wagner, who was self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19, said per video during the meeting. “It’s been an interesting journey through COVID, trying to figure out how to navigate this as a city…It’s been a short but long two years, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Wagner was elected to the council in 2019. A political consultant, he grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, received his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University and holds a law degree from the University of Georgetown. He moved to Smyrna in 2015 with his wife, Cynthia, and has two children. Wagner said he plans to continue living in Smyrna.

“Thank you for your service, we wish you well and hope you all feel better…it was a pleasure working with you,” Mayor Derek Norton told Wagner.

On Friday, City Clerk Heather Peacon-Corn said the city was working with the Cobb Board of Elections to plan a special election to fill Wagner’s seat. The election is tentatively scheduled for May 24, the same day as primary elections for statewide offices. Qualifying will likely take place during the second week of March, Peacon-Corn said.