Cochran City Manager resigns effective immediately

City council working to name replacement and ensure smooth transition

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The city manager of Cochran, Georgia, Richard Newbern, has resigned from his position effective immediately after 11 years in the role. City officials stated they appreciate Newbern's years of service and wish him well, and are currently working to name a new city manager and ensure daily operations are not disrupted during the transition.

Why it matters

The resignation of a long-serving city manager can have significant impacts on a local government's operations and leadership. Cochran officials will need to quickly find a replacement to maintain continuity of city services and address any outstanding issues, such as the recent investigation into administrative procedures violations by city hall clerks.

The details

Richard Newbern had served as Cochran's city manager for 11 years before resigning on Friday. The city did not provide a reason for his departure. Two months ago, 13WMAZ reported that two Cochran City Hall clerks were being investigated for violating "administrative procedures", with one clerk placed on leave and another fired. At the time, Newbern declined to provide specifics on the procedures violated.

  • Newbern resigned on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Two months ago, in December 2025, the investigation into Cochran City Hall clerks was reported.

The players

Richard Newbern

The former city manager of Cochran, Georgia, who resigned from his position of 11 years effective immediately.

Cochran City Council

The governing body of Cochran, Georgia, who is currently working to name a new city manager and ensure a smooth transition after Newbern's resignation.

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What they’re saying

“We appreciate Mr. Newbern's years of service to the City of Cochran and wish him the best as he and his family begin their next chapter.”

— Cochran City Officials (Cochran City Facebook Post)

What’s next

The Cochran City Council is currently working to name a new city manager and create an "active transition plan" to maintain daily operations and city services during the leadership change.

The takeaway

The sudden resignation of Cochran's long-serving city manager highlights the importance of strong municipal leadership and the need for a smooth transition plan when key officials depart. Cochran officials will need to quickly identify a qualified replacement to ensure continuity of city services and address any outstanding issues facing the local government.