Meet Braselton's New Town Manager Ron Bennett

The Town of Braselton, Georgia is inviting residents to meet new Town Manager Ron Bennett at a community meet and greet on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Braselton Civic Center, 27 E. Lake Drive, Braselton, GA 30517.

 

The free public event is open to residents, business owners, and anyone with a stake in how Braselton is managed and where it is headed.

 

Who Is Ron Bennett, Braselton's New Town Manager?

Ron Bennett was appointed Town Manager of Braselton, GA following a formal search and selection process completed in early 2026. He brings a background that is relatively uncommon in municipal government - nearly two decades of legal practice focused specifically on Georgia cities and counties, combined with hands-on administrative experience.

Before joining Braselton, Bennett served as assistant city manager for Johns Creek, Georgia from 2023 to 2024, overseeing city administration, budgeting, and daily operations.

 

Prior to that, he spent nearly 20 years as a partner at Carothers and Mitchell, a Georgia law firm with a focus on municipal representation. During that time he served as city attorney for Johns Creek and Flowery Branch for eight years each, and for Bethlehem for 18 years. He also provided legal counsel to Gwinnett, Hall, Fulton, DeKalb, and Athens-Clarke counties. Most recently, he worked as a litigation attorney for State Farm.

 

That combination of municipal law and city administration is relevant for Braselton specifically. As the town manages rapid residential growth, annexation questions, infrastructure demands, and commercial development pressures, having a town manager who has sat on both sides of those decisions, as legal counsel and as an administrator, gives the town a different kind of institutional knowledge than a traditional career administrator might bring.

 

Why Was a New Town Manager Needed in Braselton?

Bennett's appointment follows one of the more significant leadership transitions in Braselton's recent history. In 2025, the town council placed Jennifer Scott on administrative leave. Scott had served as town manager for 28 years, worked under four mayors, and was the longest-tenured employee in the town's history at the time of her departure. The council did not publicly detail the reasons for placing her on leave.

 

Chuck Button was named interim town manager while the council conducted its search. Under Georgia's open records and government transparency laws, the town was required to publicly name a sole finalist at least 14 days before holding a formal vote - a requirement designed to give the public an opportunity to weigh in before an appointment is finalized. After that notice period passed, the council approved Bennett.

 

The transition matters because Braselton is not a town that can afford prolonged administrative uncertainty. Jackson County, where Braselton is anchored, has been one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia for several consecutive years. Development decisions made now will shape the town's infrastructure, tax base, and character for decades.

 

What to Expect at the February 26 Meet and Greet

Thursday's event is a rare opportunity for direct, unfiltered conversation with the person responsible for the town's day-to-day operations. For residents, that might mean questions about specific road projects, the pace of new subdivisions, or how the town is planning for growth along its busiest corridors. For business owners, it may be a chance to ask about commercial development priorities or what the town is doing to attract and retain local businesses as larger retail and industrial projects reshape the surrounding area.

 

Bennett is new enough to the role that this event is genuinely two-directional.  He needs to hear from the community as much as residents need to hear from him. That makes showing up worthwhile in a way that some my believe a standard town hall meeting is not.

Event Details: Braselton Town Manager Meet and Greet

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026

Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Location: Braselton Civic Center, 27 E. Lake Drive, Braselton, GA

Cost: Free and open to the public

Contact: Town of Braselton | 706-654-3915

Website: Braselton.net