PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 11, 2010 

Teresa Tomlinson files Declaration of Intent to run for Mayor of Columbus, Georgia

Teresa Tomlinson, local attorney and Executive Director of MidTown, Inc., an economic development and community renewal organization, has filed a Declaration of Intent to Accept Campaign Contributions for the non-partisan 2010 Mayor's race in Columbus, Georgia. Tomlinson listed as her Campaign Committee Co-Chairs her husband Wade “Trip” Tomlinson , a local attorney and Audrey Tillman , Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Services of Aflac, Inc. Her Fundraising Co-Chairs are Sam Wellborn , retired CB&T Bank president and current Georgia Department of Transportation board member, and Sam Mitchell , Columbus High School graduate, former professional basketball player and N.B.A coach, and co-founder of the SaMarc Dream and Achieve Foundation for children. Her Treasurer is listed as Ed Sprouse , a partner at Columbus' Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker and Ford, P.C.

Tomlinson will build on the successes of Mayor Jim Wetherington's administration, while bringing her own style of grassroots consensus building to the job: “We must continue to make Columbus a place where its citizens are safe and our families thrive - where more businesses and jobs are attracted to our city and our local businesses prosper." As the chief public safety officer, Tomlinson will maintain a laser-like focus on reducing crime in Columbus. "We have to connect the dots between increasing access to economic opportunity, maintaining first-class public safety services and reducing crime. When people have jobs, we win on the crime front and all our citizens benefit."

Tomlinson also emphasizes improving city government's service to citizens: “We have some of the hardest working city employees of any city. I look forward to working with the City Manager and city council to ensure that city employees have the most efficient and effective workplace possible. On issues such as regional growth, water, solid waste, and others, our community deserves a city government that continues to work for us."

“We have been talking with a lot of people over the past several months and everyone, to a person, is excited about taking Columbus to the next level. I would be honored to work with the citizens and city to maximize the opportunities facing us and make Columbus the country's No. 1 city for quality of life”, says Tomlinson; “For 10 years, I have worked with three mayoral administrations, two city managers, the police chief, the city attorney and numerous departments on issues of economic development, land use, BRAC and regional growth, crime prevention and innovative solutions to municipal challenges. We are anxious to bring energy and fresh thinking to these relationships for Columbus' benefit”.

“Columbus is fortunate to have someone with Teresa's ability, work ethic and record of accomplishment running for Mayor. When elected, she really will take Columbus to a whole new level”, says George Jeter , retired Aflac executive. Ronzell Buckner , owner of Skipper's Seafood Restaurant on Buena Vista Road, explains, “Teresa's candidacy is good news for the entire Columbus community. I have seen her in the trenches of community development and she can build consensus where others cannot. Teresa gets things done, and people respect that”.

Tomlinson will wind down her duties as Executive Director of MidTown, Inc. over the next 6-8 weeks. MidTown, Inc. then will be headed by Interim Director Frank S. Etheridge, III , retired SunTrust Bank president and current president of the MidTown, Inc. board. “Certainly, we have big shoes to fill in replacing Teresa. What she has done to establish MidTown, Inc. and build this organization is remarkable. We are happy for Columbus that she has chosen to run for Mayor, but her leadership at MidTown, Inc. will be missed”, says John Sheftall , president-elect of the MidTown, Inc. board; “We have convened a blue ribbon search committee and will begin the exciting process of finding a good fit for the next chapter of MidTown's renewal process”.

For more information, contact: Teresa Tomlinson (706) 332-2949; John Sheftall (706) 289-3434