Albany City Commission swears in two incumbents, new Ward V member

ALBANY – The Albany City Commission swore in three members to four-year terms this week, with one fresh face joining two incumbents.

The commissioners who are returning to the commission are Vilnis Gaines in Ward III and Willie Weaver in Ward II.

Colette Jenkins, who won the Ward V seat in November during her second campaign for the office, said she is ready to hit the ground running for her constituents.

“I have been moving forward on listening to the people,” she said. “They’re wanting to be heard. My goal is to collaborate and work on the concerns of Ward V.”

One goal for the new commissioner is working to involve neighborhood watches.

“We’ve had some issues in our neighborhoods, so I want to strengthen the neighborhood watches. I have not received official (participation) numbers. I’ve been speaking with Doublegate, the northwest. They’ve been a fairly active community, so hopefully I will be meeting with that group this week.”

Some of the concerns expressed by residents of the ward include excessive speeding and potholes, the new commissioner said.

“Potholes, potholes, potholes,” Jenkins said. “They’re everywhere. And speeding in the neighborhoods. I plan to collaborate with the police department and discuss some of these issues. We have Old Dawson Road, and that’s really become a main thoroughfare. We have concerns about speeding on Beatty Road.”

Another concern is golf carts, often driven by underage drivers, on city streets. 

While discussions about housing often turn to the east and south Albany areas, the need for affordable housing is one that is felt in all parts of the city, Jenkins said.

“My goal is to hear from the community,” she said. “That has been the main concern while I was out doing my campaign. They wanted their voices to be heard.

“They gave me a list of their concerns, and I hope to get started on that right away. I would like to thank the voters for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to be their representative.”

The Monday meeting also saw the departure of Bob Langstaff. Langstaff served five terms, a total of 20 years, as the Ward V commissioner.

“Bob was a long-term commissioner, very committed,” Ward IV Commissioner Chad Warbington said. “ I learned a lot from Bob. When I first came on as a commissioner we talked policy all the time.”

While the two did not always see eye to eye on every issue, “Bob made me a better commissioner,” Warbington said. “He’s going to be missed.”

The Ward IV commissioner said he is also excited about working with Jenkins and the new “team” set to serve for the next two years.

“I’m looking forward to (working with) Collette,” he said. “I look forward to building a relationship with her very soon. I’m looking forward to working with the team and people having different viewpoints. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”

For Gaines, who was sworn in for his second term, completing some of the projects that are under way, are “on his agenda” for the next four years.

“I’m trying to get some of these downtown projects finished and work on housing in Albany,” he said. “I want to address the housing problem we have in Albany. I want to work on more affordable housing.”

Recreation facilities that are either under construction or in the planning stage are also important to the Ward III commissioner. 

“We need to have something for kids to do,” Gaines said. “We had 23 homicides last year. I think if we get all these recreation projects finished, it will most definitely help.”

Dougherty County voters will return to the polls this year for elections for County Commission Districts 2, 4 and 6 as well as the countywide vote for chairman. On the Dougherty County School Board, Districts 2, 4 and 6 are up for election this year.

The 2026 ballot also will include the governor’s race and other statewide offices.