Michael Owens (politician)

Early Life

Michael Owens was raised in Robbins, North Carolina. His family had deep roots in the Cobb County area of Georgia, where his grandparents lived, and his grandfather and father were both born in Columbus, Ohio. He has noted that his relatives resided along what is now Veterans Memorial Highway, historically known as Bankhead Highway.

Military Service

Owens served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years, primarily in communications. During his service, he also undertook combat engineering and received training in counterterrorism. His military education included boot camp at Parris Island and officer school at Quantico.

Education and Professional Career

Owens earned a doctorate of business administration in global business and leadership from California Intercontinental University. In the private sector, he worked as a business information security officer at Equifax, the consumer credit reporting agency.

Political Career

Owens entered electoral politics in 2014, when he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Representative David Scott in the Democratic primary for Georgia's 13th congressional district. He ran against Scott again in the 2020 Democratic primary for the same seat, also without success.

From 2016 to 2019, Owens served as Chair of the Cobb County Democratic Committee. In 2022, he sought the Democratic nomination for Georgia Secretary of State, a bid that attracted endorsements from former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes and state Senator Michael Rhett, though he did not secure the nomination.

Mayor of Mableton

In March 2023, Owens announced his candidacy for mayor of Mableton in the city's inaugural mayoral election. He was endorsed by Roy Barnes, who himself grew up in Mableton. Owens defeated Aaron Carman in the runoff election, capturing 55.68% of the vote, and was sworn in as Mableton's first mayor in over 100 years — a significant milestone given the city's incorporation as the largest city in Cobb County.

Following his election, Owens and the city council attended a three-day training and orientation session at the headquarters of the Georgia Municipal Association in July 2023. He also succeeded Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin as a member of the Cobb & Douglas County Board of Health.

Personal Life

Owens lives in Mableton, Georgia, with his wife Lesley Bell Owens. They have five children together.