The City Manager is responsible to the City Commission for the overall management of the City of Griffin and as a conduit between City employees and the City Commission. The City Manager handles all issues pertaining to the safe, efficient and effective operation of the City.

The City of Griffin has operated under the Commission / City Manager form of government since 1918 with E. P. Bridges being the first City Manager. By Charter, the City Manager serves as Secretary to the Board of Commissioners is the administrative and fiscal head of the city’s government. The City manager directs and supervises the administration of all city departments, sees that all laws and ordinances are faithfully executed and performed; prepares and submits a proposed annual budget and financial reports; and provides for the effective and efficient operations of the entire city. The City Manager also provides leadership and direction to Department Directors for all aspects of City projects and concerns.

To fulfill these responsibilities, the City Manager is assisted by an administrative staff, 11 Department Directors, 442 employees and various boards and authorities.

Jessica O’Connor, Griffin City Manager

Jessica O’Connor has been the Griffin City Manager since April 2021 and has been employed in local government since 2016. She is an alumna of Auburn University and the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. She is a member in good standing of the Georgia Bar Association and the Spalding County Bar Association. Ms. O’Connor is an active member of the Georgia Municipal Association, the Georgia City/County Management Association, the International City/County Management Association, and the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Ms. O’Connor is the current Chairperson of the City Attorneys’ Section of the Georgia Municipal Association and the Vice-Chairperson of the Local Government Section of the State Bar of Georgia. She was named one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 Under 40 for 2020.

She is active in the community, particularly with the Griffin Kiwanis Club, the Salvation Army, the Griffin-Spalding Historical Society, and the First Baptist Church of Griffin. Jessica lives in Griffin and is married to Michael O’Connor. They have two children, Jack and Mae.