Senoia names new city manager, pursues lawsuit against former officials
Christopher Hobby was appointed — but the city's legal fight against three former leaders over alleged unauthorized pay raises remains ongoing.
Source: times-herald.com
Senoia's city council made two significant moves in early June: it appointed a new city manager and announced plans to bring in local legal counsel to help pursue a civil lawsuit against three of the city's own former leaders.
Christopher Hobby — most recently assistant city manager of Peachtree City and previously a longtime city manager in Bainbridge — was the council's pick to lead the small Coweta County city, according to the Times-Herald.
The same meeting produced a second announcement: after an executive session, the council said it would hire local counsel to assist with its ongoing civil lawsuit filed in Coweta County Superior Court. The suit names former City Manager Harold Simmons, former Mayor William 'Dub' Pearman III, and former Assistant City Manager and former Mayor Jeffrey 'Jeff' Fisher — now a Coweta County Commissioner — as defendants.
At the heart of the lawsuit are allegations of unauthorized salary increases paid to Simmons, along with related charter and fiduciary violations, according to the Times-Herald.
The lawsuit remains active in Coweta County Superior Court. According to the Citizen, proceedings have already addressed legal questions including the issue of official immunity.
Hobby's tenure proved short-lived. He resigned after roughly one week on the job, forcing the council to restart its search. The council later appointed Senoia resident Timothy Hults, who brings more than 35 years of municipal experience, as the city's new city manager, according to the Times-Herald.
For Senoia residents, the dual tracks of leadership instability and active litigation against former officials underscore how much the city's governance is still being sorted out — even as a new manager is now in place.
Why it matters — Senoia residents are watching their city try to stabilize its leadership while simultaneously pursuing a lawsuit that could determine financial accountability for decisions made by former officials who once ran the city.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- Hobby resigned voluntarily rather than being dismissed.
- exact date June 2, 2026
- unanimously appointed on June 2
- salary increases totaling more than $176,000
- resignation accepted June 8
- appointed July 2, 2026
Reported by times-herald.com, thecitizen.com
