Cosby Johnson has comfortably won re-election in the Brunswick mayor race, competing against former commissioner Vincent Williams.
Final results from precincts show that the 40-year-old lobbyist got over 70% of the 1441 votes cast.
“Tonight, this overwhelming victory reaffirms the City of Brunswick’s vision. One crafted through generations. Tonight we get back to work! Back to work, creating more opportunities for our citizens. Back to work reimagining economic development and infrastructure,” Johnson wrote in a statement to The Current GA. “Back to work, ensuring that homeownership isn’t just a dream but a reality for all of our people. Tonight, the work to be done is clear, and so was the choice to lead us into that next generation”.
Johnson was first elected to the city hall in 2022, succeeding Cornell Harvey, who was Brunswick’s first Black mayor.
Johnson’s campaign messaging was straightforward—give him four more years to finish what he started. During the mayor’s first term, the city launched its microtransit system, the Brunswick Breeze, which had been developed over a three-year period. The mayor also lauded the city’s investment in parks and recreation, which had been largely neglected.
Back in October, the mayor told The Current that there is still much work to be done. Especially when it comes to addressing the looming threat of food deserts, he said that the city would consider extending the free period of the Brunswick Breeze to cover the construction time at Aldi.
Johnson’s other election day achievement was passing the city’s homestead exemption. He pushed for a referendum to be on the ballot today that will offer graduated property tax relief based on the property’s value. The exemption percentage increases with the length of ownership: 5% for owners of 5 years or less, rising gradually to 50% for those who have owned their homes for 30 years or more.
The tax break passed with 86% of the votes.