Douglasville Mayor Mickey Thompson was re-elected June 23 to a one-year term as an at-large member of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) board of directors during the association’s annual meeting in Savannah.

“We are pleased to have Mayor Thompson serving on the GMA board of directors,” said GMA Executive Director Jim Higdon. “He has provided great leadership to GMA, and I’m sure will continue to do so as a member of the board.”

Thompson served this year as chairman of the board’s nominating committee, which made recommendations for upcoming members of the board and nominated its third vice-president.

Thompson also serves on the risk management board, which makes investment decisions on $750 million in total assets.

“This money primarily is for insurance and retirement plans for the state’s city employees,” Thompson said.

The city of Douglasville and the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) both offer GMA benefits to their employees.

According to Thompson, his role with GMA gives the city “a seat at the table where decisions are made,” though he is working to benefit cities across Georgia.

“What’s good for the state is good for the city of Douglasville,” Thompson said.

The GMA’s annual meeting was a day shorter this year than it had been in the past because many cities have cut travel expenses in their budget, and Thompson said attendance was down by at least 20 percent.

The state’s slumping economy and how cities are reacting to it this fiscal year was the most widely discussed topic at this year’s meeting, Thompson added.

Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and technical assistance services to its 500 member cities.