Dawson County Tax Commissioner Linda Townley was recently elected to lead District 2 for the Georgia Association of Tax Officials.

District 2 includes Dawson, Cherokee, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Hall, Lumpkin, Pickens and Union counties. It is one of 19 districts across the state.

District leaders, who make up the group's executive board, meet periodically to discuss tax issues, policies and laws affecting their respective regions.

House Bill 386, a statewide reform that was approved in April and changes the way cars titles are handled, is sure to be a topic of discussion in the coming month, according to Townley.

"It's important for our county to be well represented," she said. "It's also important for any citizen with concerns about taxes to talk to their tax commissioner."

Townley said she plans to participate in a town hall meeting in December, along with state Rep.-elect Kevin Tanner and Sen. Steve Gooch, to explain the legislation and talk about its local effects. The meeting date will be announced soon.

Elected tax commissioner in 2004, Townley has been involved with the state association for the last eight years.

The group aims to improve the standards of tax administrative practices, to provide a clearinghouse for the distribution of useful information relating to tax administrative practices and promote justice and equity in the distribution of the tax burden, among other goals.

Townley replaces longtime district leader J.W. Payne of Union County, who is set to retire in January.

A Dawson County native, Townley also serves on the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority board of directors and is a member of the local Kiwanis Club.

She previously served as mayor of Dawsonville and was a budget control analyst for Lockheed Martin in Marietta for 35 years.

She has three children and six grandchildren.