Clarkston, GA – (April 4, 2025) The City of Clarkston is proud to announce the appointment of ChaQuias Miller-Thornton as its new City Manager, effective April 4, 2025. She succeeds Tammi Saddler Jones, who served in the role in an interim capacity for the past 18 months. With more than 25 years of experience in municipal government, Miller-Thornton brings extensive knowledge, proven leadership, and a strong commitment to excellence in public service.
As City Manager, Ms. Miller-Thornton will serve as the City’s Chief Executive and Administrative Officer, responsible for overseeing daily operations, guiding departmental leadership, and ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of services to the Clarkston community.
Miller-Thornton’s connection to DeKalb County government spans more than a decade and includes distinguished service in municipalities such as Stone Mountain and Pine Lake. She has held several key leadership positions, including City Manager, Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, and City Clerk. In each capacity, she led efforts to improve operational efficiency, strengthen fiscal management, and implement policy reforms that elevated overall government performance. As a passionate public servant, she has advanced initiatives in environmental sustainability, transportation, infrastructure development, and quality of life, leaving a lasting and meaningful impact on the communities she served.
“This is a pivotal time for the City of Clarkston as we work to strengthen community partnerships, expand economic opportunities, and ensure equitable access to city services,” said Mayor Beverly H. Burks. “With Ms. Miller-Thornton at the helm, I am confident that our city will continue to grow in a direction that honors our diversity, uplifts every resident, and prepares us for a thriving future.”
As she begins her tenure, Ms. Miller-Thornton is focused on aligning departmental operations with the city’s long-term goals and strategic plans. Her vision extends beyond local governance, aiming to position Clarkston for greater impact across the county, region, state, and nation.
“I am honored and truly consider it a blessing to serve as City Manager for the City of Clarkston, a uniquely diverse and densely populated oasis of cultures and backgrounds,” said Miller-Thornton. “What makes Clarkston so special is that service takes on many different meanings for the people who call this city home. My goal is to help ensure that every individual, every family, and every community group is supported in ways that reflect their specific needs through the services our departments provide. I am excited to work alongside the Mayor, Council, city staff, business owners, stakeholders, and the residents of Clarkston to bring our shared vision to life and help this beautiful community reach its greatest potential.”