Jim has more than 40 years experience in the fields of local government, law and business. He was previously the mayor of Social Circle and the president of Public Research and Management Inc. Burgess was also a legislative liaison for the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the City of Savannah. Burgess earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in governmental administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and a law degree from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law.
12 LC 35 2440
House Resolution 1155
By: Representative Williamson of the 111th
Passed 2012-01-24
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Mr. James V. Burgess, Jr., of Social Circle, Walton County, Georgia, for his outstanding public service; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Mr. James V. Burgess is a long-time resident of Social Circle, Georgia, where he is known for his extraordinary dedication to his community and fellow citizens; and
WHEREAS, for 30 years, Mr. Burgess worked as an advocate for city governments with the Georgia Municipal Association, and 13 of those years were as the association’s Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, he served as the Mayor of the City of Social Circle from 1997 through 2011, and during that time he also served as a member of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Walton County Development Authority; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Burgess’s leadership was instrumental in the construction and securing of federal funding for Social Circle’s bypass, which links the city’s industrial community to Georgia Highway 11 and Interstate 20; and
WHEREAS, his hard work and dedication laid the groundwork for the city’s downtown development improvement projects and, during his tenure, he led the city council to improve the financial condition of the municipality, maintain low taxes, and cultivate new industry for additional jobs; and
WHEREAS, he was a visionary for the development of the Promenade Project from the Blue Willow Inn Restaurant to historic downtown, as well as the Mill Village Redevelopment Plan, both of which have been adopted by the City Council as long-range goals; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Burgess has championed urban renewal within the city by improving the infrastructure, eliminating many of its mobile home parks, constructing decorative fencing around city cemeteries, and expanding the sidewalk system within Social Circle, making the community more walker-friendly for its residents and visitors; and
WHEREAS, his dedication to his community is further demonstrated by his active membership in the Rotary Club of Social Circle, Social Circle Lions Club, and the Walton County Boys & Girls Club; and
WHEREAS, it is only fitting and proper that the distinguished and extraordinary public service of Mr. James V. Burgess, Jr., be properly recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body does hereby recognize and commend Mr. James V. Burgess, Jr., for his outstanding and dedicated public service to the citizens of the community of Social Circle and the State of Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Mr. James V. Burgess, Jr.
James V. Burgess Jr. is a practicing attorney specializing in municipal law and also serves as a public policy mediator and consulting attorney in matters affecting local and state government.
Georgia Local Government Research 