ATLANTA — Tifton Mayor Julie Smith was elected first vice president of the Georgia Municipal Association during the association’s annual convention Aug. 8.

She is now in line to become president of the 500-plus-member city organization in 2022, GMA representatives said in a statement.

Smith, who founded Advantage Realty in 2007, has served on the Tifton City Council since 2015. She was elected as the first female mayor of Tifton in 2015.

She has been a member of the GMA board of directors since 2015 and a member of the executive committee. Along with earning more than 90 hours of training through the Howard Holtz Leadership Institute, she served on the GMA training board. In addition, she is a past member of the Member Services Advisory Council.

“Mayor Smith is well respected by city officials around the state,” said Larry Hanson, GMA executive director. “She understands the issues cities face and the important role of GMA in supporting cities. We look forward to her continued leadership in this new role.”

Created in 1933, the Georgia Municipal Association is the only state organization that represents municipal governments in Georgia. For more information, visitwww.gacities.com.