The Doraville City Council unanimously selected City Councilmember Stephe Koontz as mayor pro-tem on Wednesday, further solidifying LGBTQ political representation in the city.

Koontz (photo) is the only openly transgender elected official in Georgia. 

“I am honored that my fellow council members have entrusted me with this role, and this is further proof that the City of Doraville fully embraces the diversity that exists here,” she told Project Q Atlanta. 

As mayor pro tem, Koontz would fill in for Mayor Joseph Geierman if he wasn't able to attend a council meeting, she said. Koontz will remain a councilmember.

Geierman, who became Doraville’s first openly LGBTQ mayor earlier this month, said Koontz was “an excellent choice” for mayor pro tem.

“This unanimous vote shows our council's commitment to collaboration and fairness, and I am sure that Ms. Koontz will represent the city admirably over the next year,” he said.

Doraville voters elected gay IT professional Andy Yeoman to city council in November and he took office earlier this month. With Geierman, Koontz and Yeoman in office, that makes Doraville one of the most LGBTQ-representative city governments in the state. 

Koontz and Geierman were elected to the Doraville City Council in 2017. Geierman gave up his council seat to run for mayor in July 2019.