COVINGTON, Ga — On the first Covington Metropolis Council assembly of the brand new 12 months on Monday, Jan. 5, the council unanimously appointed a 2026 mayor professional tem and a mayor professional tem-elect.
Council Member Jared Rutberg will function mayor professional tem for 2026, with Council Member Charika Davis as mayor professional tem-elect. Each council members indicated their willingness to simply accept the roles, and the appointments handed unanimously.
The mayor professional tem appointments alternate between East Ward and West Ward council members. In 2025, West Ward Council Member Kim Johnson served as mayor professional tem. Rutberg, being of the East Ward, took on the mantle this 12 months.
Within the occasion of the mayor’s absence, the mayor professional tem leads metropolis council conferences, serving as appearing mayor. The professional tem additionally assumes the duties of the mayor if the mayor undergoes important bodily or psychological incapacity or is suspended throughout their tenure, per the town constitution.
Regardless of being the appearing mayor, the mayor professional tem doesn’t acquire the mayoral veto powers; slightly, their vote stays that of a council member.
