Teresa Tomlinson

In 1983, Tomlinson graduated from Chamblee High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sweet Briar College in Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the Emory University School of Law.^[5][6]

In 1991, Tomlinson began her career at the firm Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison and Norwood as an attorney. In 1998, she became a partner there.^[7]

In May 2015, Tomlinson gave the graduation speech at Sweet Briar College, weeks after the college's leadership had voted to close the college.^[8][9] In June 2015, she and others were appointed to the newly configured Sweet Briar Board of Trustees by a settlement agreement approved by the Bedford County, Virginia Circuit Court.^[10] Tomlinson was elected chair of the board, and served in that position until July 2018, helping to restructure the college.^[11]

On January 7, 2019, Tomlinson joined the law firm Hall Booth Smith, P.C., as a partner specializing in complex litigation, crisis management, and strategic solutions.^[12]

On February 8, 2024, she was lead trial counsel for plaintiff Christina Necole Vazquez Klecha, who received a jury award of $20.7 million for the wrongful death of her father, George ("Bick") Hale Bickerstaff, III.^[13][14]

During Tomlinson's tenure as mayor, Columbus was named one of the top fifty Best-Run Cities in America in 2016 and 2017.^[15][16] Her administration saw a 39.3%reduction in crime from its height in 2009, including a 41.2% drop in property crime and a 15% drop in violent crime.^[17][18] Under her leadership, the Columbus Consolidated Government balanced the budget for the first time in 16 years, using no reserve funds,^[19][20] and provided city and county services at the cost of $1,300 per person.^[15] Tomlinson instituted reform in the city's pension plan, increasing funding of the General Government plan to over 90%, while preserving the Defined Benefit Plan for Employees.^{[20][21][19][22]}

She also instituted reform at the Muscogee County Prison with the Rapid Resolution Initiative, which expedited the disposition of unindicted inmates at the Muscogee County Jail.^[23][24][25] Tax Allocation Districts were adopted to encourage the revitalization of city districts, including City Village and the Liberty District.^[26][27] New biking/walking trails were constructed, known as the Dragonfly Trails, to create 60 miles of connected trails throughout the city, including trails and streetscapes in previously blighted areas.^[28] Over two miles of the Chattahoochee River were returned to its natural state, creating the world's longest Whitewater Course in an urban setting.^[29] Tomlinson has overseen the renaissance of the city's downtown, creating a dining and entertainment district known as Uptown.^[30][31]

Tomlinson has written opinion pieces for The Daily Beast and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.^{[32][33][34][35][36]}

She completed her second term on January 6, 2019.^[37][38]

Tomlinson ran in the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent Senator David Perdue in the 2020 election, but lost to Jon Ossoff, who later won the runoff election against Perdue.^[39][40]