In The Wake Of Kemp’s Latest Order, Will Local Governments Pass Mask Mandates?
Gov. Brian Kemp has given Georgia cities and counties the ability to institute mask mandates.
John Bazemore / Associated Press
Updated Wednesday at 10:39 a.m.
It’s unclear how many cities and counties will institute face mask mandates to slow the spread of coronavirus now that Gov. Brian Kemp has given them the ability to do so.
After weeks of publicly fighting with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over requiring face coverings in the city, Kemp issued an executive order over the weekend allowing localities to put such rules in place.
But some local government officials and advocates don’t foresee an avalanche of mask mandates in the coming days.
“I think we will see more counties that now act,” said Dave Wills, executive director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. “But I certainly don’t think that will include all.”
The “vast majority” of Georgia’s 159 counties haven’t called his organization to express an opinion on the matter, Wills says. He takes that as a possible sign that most counties aren’t interested in putting mask rules in place.
Wills says he’s “pleased to see” the order from the governor giving counties more power to institute public health rules, though he says mandates are only effective if people follow them.
“Does it give counties and cities more authority? Definitely. Will it work to the advantage of the state as a whole and communities individually? I think that’s gonna depend on what we as individuals do,” he said.
Wills also wonders whether cities or counties have sufficient law enforcement personnel to enforce any mask rules they might put in place.
That’s a sentiment echoed by elected officials in metro Atlanta and in coastal Georgia, where Mike Browning chairs the Glynn County Commission.
“I’ve already received calls here locally from citizens that want us to go do something about some people in a certain part of the county that’s not wearing masks,” he said. “I can only imagine what it would be like if we had a mask mandate.”
Browning also worries a mandate would lead to unnecessary conflicts between members of the public. Fights over masks have been well-documented across the country, and in some instances they’ve turned violent.
Still, some local governments say they plan to move quickly to put mask requirements in place.
The mayor of Sparta and the chair of the Hancock County commission tell the Atlanta Journal-Constitution they both plan to institute such requirements.
Rusty Paul, the mayor of Sandy Springs says he’ll enact one for his metro-Atlanta city on Tuesday.
“I appreciate the Governor giving us the flexibility to deal with unique local conditions,” he said in a written statement.
Once they do, the three localities will join the more than a dozen cities and counties around the state that already had put mask ordinances in place prior to Kemp’s latest order.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the name of Dave Wills, executive director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.
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