Councilmember Lama Resigns For Congressional Run

Wednesday, January 7th, 2026

Dalton City Councilmember Nicky Lama has resigned from the City Council. Lama's resignation is in accordance with a Georgia law that requires candidates for elected office to resign from any elected position they currently hold if the term of the new office coincides with their current term. Lama recently announced his candidacy for Georgia's 14th-district seat in the US House of Representatives. The seat was vacated by the resignation of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. 

Lama was first elected to the City Council in 2023 to fulfill the unexpired portion of Annalee Sams' term as the Ward 2 representative. Sams resigned the post in order to run for mayor. Lama was re-elected last November while running unopposed. He was sworn in during Monday night's meeting for his second term. On Tuesday, Governor Brian Kemp called for a special election to replace Congresswoman Greene which will be held on March 10th. Councilmember Lama, who had previously announced his intention to run for the seat, resigned later Tuesday evening to allow City leaders adequate time to organize a special election for his City Council post. 

Caption: A portrait of former Dalton City Councilmember Nicky Lama

There will be a special called meeting of the Mayor and Council on Thursday morning at 8:00 am. The meeting agenda calls for a vote on the annexation of a property on Chattanooga Road into the City of Dalton, and also a call for a special municipal election on March 10th to coincide with the federal special election. The resolution being considered would set a qualifying period for candidates shall be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026; and 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at City Hall.