This article is part of CJ Explains, a series where I break down how local government works in plain language — no jargon, no assumptions. Local government touches your daily life in ways most people never see. The more you understand how it works, the better equipped you are to hold it accountable. New explainers publish alongside my ongoing coverage so you always have the context you need.
If you've ever wondered who's really in charge of day-to-day life in Conyers, you're not alone. Most residents know there's a mayor and a city council, but there's a third figure who often has more operational power than either — the city manager. Understanding the difference matters, especially right now.
Two Models of City Government
Cities in Georgia generally operate under one of two basic models.
The first is called a strong mayor system. In this model, the mayor is elected by voters and serves as the chief executive of the city. They hire and fire department heads, manage city staff, and run city operations directly. Think of it like a CEO who was chosen by the public. The city council passes laws and sets policy, but the mayor handles the day-to-day management.
The second is called a council-manager system, sometimes called a weak mayor system — though that term isn't meant as an insult. In this model, the city council is the governing body. They set policy, pass ordinances, and approve the budget. The mayor serves as the head of the council and often represents the city publicly, but does not run city operations. Instead, the council hires a professional city manager to handle the day-to-day work.
Where Does Conyers Fit?
Conyers operates under the council-manager system. That means City Manager Kameron Kelley — not Mayor Connie Alsobrook — oversees city staff, manages city departments, and carries out the policies the council sets. The mayor leads council meetings, represents Conyers publicly, and votes on council matters, but does not manage city employees or direct city operations.
This is actually the more common model for cities of Conyers' size. The idea behind it is that a professional city manager, hired for their expertise, can run city government efficiently without the pressures of political campaigns shaping every staffing and management decision.
Why This Matters Right Now
On Wednesday, the Conyers City Council is scheduled to vote on a funding request listed under Old Business on the official March 18 agenda. The item calls for $8,000 to be added to the "Mayor and Council contract labor budget account" and is being presented by City Manager Kameron Kelley.
That figure covers only the remainder of the current fiscal year — Conyers operates on a July through June budget, not a calendar year, meaning the $8,000 would cover roughly three months. Extrapolated out to a full year, that works out to approximately $32,000 annually.
In a strong mayor system, a mayoral assistant would be straightforward — the mayor runs operations and needs staff. But in a council-manager system, it raises a real question: what administrative role does a mayoral assistant serve when the mayor is not the chief administrator?
The vote Wednesday is also not the last word. If the item passes, the position is funded only through June. When the new fiscal year budget is drafted and brought to the council for approval starting July 1, the position would need to be included in that budget or it goes away. The council controls the budget, which means the council controls whether this position continues beyond three months. That means Wednesday's vote could be the first step toward a permanent $32,000 annual line item — subject to council approval each budget cycle.
That question is at the center of the conversation heading into Wednesday's vote.
I'll have coverage of the vote and what it means. In the meantime, if you want to understand how I find the documents behind stories like this one — and how you can access the same records yourself — that's coming next in this series.
CJ Lester is the founder of CJ Lester Investigates, covering accountability journalism in Rockdale County and the City of Conyers.
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