Pembroke’s city council members will have staggered terms beginning in 2030, a change the city’s mayor said will provide both continuity and accountability.

The measure will take effect through an amendment to the city charter, which has already been approved by the General Assembly and awaits a signature by Gov. Brian Kemp to become official.

Currently, all five council posts and the mayor’s seat are up for election at the same time.

“As mayor of Pembroke, I’ve seen firsthand how important consistency and steady leadership are to moving our city forward,” said Tiffany Zeigler, who has been mayor of Pembroke since 2024. “That’s why staggered city council terms are so important for our community.”

Zeigler, who spent 16 years on city council, is the granddaughter of the late Harry Owens, a former mayor, and Elvie Owens, the city’s first female council member. Zeigler noted a majority of city and county governments use staggered terms – both Richmond Hill and Bryan County have them, though nearby Hinesville and Midway do not – and said they’ll be particularly fitting for Pembroke as it seeks to move forward with multiple projects amid growth sparked by the nearby Hyundai plant.

“In a small city like ours, relationships, local knowledge and experience matter,” she said. “Whether we’re working on infrastructure improvements, capital projects, supporting local businesses or planning for our future, those efforts don’t happen overnight. Staggered terms help ensure we don’t lose momentum by having an entirely new council at once. Instead we keep experienced members at the table who understand our ongoing projects, our budget priorities and the needs of our citizens.”

At the same time, Zeigler said staggered terms “still allow for new leadership and fresh ideas. We continue to welcome new voices and perspectives while maintaining the stability needed to see long-term plans through.”

Zeigler's term, and those of Pembroke’s five council members, will expire on Jan. 10, 2028 and will be up for grabs in the November 2027 elections.

Under the amended charter, those elected in 2027 to Districts 1, 3 and the At-Large seat will serve a single two year term beginning in 2028. The seats will revert back to four-year terms in 2030.

Meanwhile, candidates elected in the 2027 election to Districts 2, 4 and the mayor’s seat will serve regular four year terms expiring in January 2032, according to City Manager Chris Benson.

Under the change, Pembroke will have municipal elections every two years from 2030 onward, and one former mayor, Judy Cook, thinks the move is long overdue. Cook, a longtime city clerk who served five terms as mayor before retiring from local politics, applauded the measure.

“It keeps continuity on the city council, because a lot of time in government it’s about who you know as much as what you know, and it also lets new people come on board,” she said. “I’ve always liked new people and what they bring to the city. They’ve come in with some good ideas.”

While it’s not immediately clear if Pembroke voters have ever turned out an entire council and its mayor – Cook said incumbents have tended to get re-elected more often than not – under the new charter it won’t be possible when the 2030 election rolls around.

That should be seen as a step forward, the city’s current mayor said.

“In Pembroke, we pride ourselves on working together and building on what’s been started—not starting over every few years,” Zeigler said. “Staggered terms help us do exactly that. They provide a balance of continuity and accountability, ensuring that we remain focused on serving our residents both now and in the years ahead.”