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State of the City Address 2026

Mayor & Council Priorities

Government

City Council

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The Canton City Council sets all policies for the City including fiscal and administrative policy. The councilmembers' terms of office are for four years. Elections occur every two years so terms are staggered. The current Mayor Pro Tem is Farris Yawn; he takes on the role of mayor when Mayor Grant is absent. All wards are city-at-large positions with geographic residency requirements.

The governing body of the City of Canton is the City Council that establishes local law and policies through the enactment of ordinances and resolutions. Regular City Council meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursday each month at Canton City Hall located at 110 Academy Street. The City Council may postpone or cancel any meeting as deemed necessary.

View upcoming and past meeting agendas.

Council Members

Select a council member to learn more. 

Tolan, Shawn

Shawn_Tolan_2020
  • Departments:Mayor & Council
  • Title:Councilmember Ward 2
  • Phone:(770) 710-5679
  • Email:

(4 Year Term) Term Expires 12/2027

Prior to joining Canton's City Council, Shawn spent 12 years in the executive search industry, focusing on placing professionals into leadership positions within healthcare technology companies whose solutions improve patient access and patient safety.
 
Prior to entering executive search, he spent 25 years in the healthcare technology industry, holding leadership positions with Medex, B.Braun and Smiths Medical. His passion has always been to improve the quality of people’s lives. At Medex, Shawn played a pivotal role in the design, manufacture, and successful launch of Medfusion syringe infusion pumps, considered the gold standard in medication safety infusion devices for use with children and in Anesthesia departments. Medfusion medication safety infusion devices are utilized in NICU, PICU, Anesthesia departments and Children’s hospitals worldwide.
 
Shawn is a graduate of Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC where he served as dorm president and captain of the soccer team, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. At Pfeiffer, Shawn met his wife Shari, who served as a dedicated science teacher within Cherokee County School District for 18 years. She currently serves as a Science Test Development Specialist for special needs students, working remotely for The University of Kansas. They have a grown son and daughter, 3 grandsons and a granddaughter. Shawn and his entire family have been residents of Cherokee county since 1994.
 
Shawn was elected to serve a 4-year term as a member of Canton's City Council, representing Ward 2 on November 5th, 2019.

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