Cohutta swears in appointed mayor, vows for transparency
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson speaks with a constituent following a Cohutta Town Council meeting in Cohutta, Ga. in which he was sworn in on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town's new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.
By Times Free Press Staff 5 min read
Cohutta’s Town Council has appointed Brian Johnson as mayor after a month of prospective candidate interviews.
Johnson, a Navy veteran and pastor at Smith Chapel Methodist in Tunnel Hill, was sworn in on Tuesday afternoon.
“We are thrilled to death to be here,” Johnson said after he was sworn in. “To the Town Council, I say thank you for the selection and your confidence in me to do this.”
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Police Chief Greg Fowler gives a public safety report to the Cohutta Town Council in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The town council appointed Brian Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that kicked off with Shinnick dissolving the town’s police department in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson speaks at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Town Council member Shane Kornberg, left, speaks beside Mayor Brian Johnson at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The town council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson speaks to the public at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson, center right, speaks at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson holds up his right hand during his swearing-in at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson holds up his right hand during his swearing-in at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson speaks to the public at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson speaks to the public at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Cohutta Mayor Brian Johnson speaks at Cohutta Town Hall in Cohutta, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The Cohutta Town Council appointed Johnson as the town’s new mayor following a storm of controversy surrounding then-Mayor Ron Shinnick that began in early May.
In accordance with the town charter, the Town Council, led by interim mayor Sandy Clayborne, requested residents, if interested, apply for the position. Seven people threw their hat in the ring and were interviewed by the four members of the Council, according to Council member Shane Kornberg.
