On Dec. 17, the night of Mayor Eva Galambos’ last City Council meeting, accolades dominated the agenda.
She was first elected in 2005, after years of helping lead the effort to incorporate the north Fulton County city. She decided against running for a third term, and Mayor-elect Rusty Paul will succeed her next month.
The Rotary Club of Sandy Springs named Galambos a Paul Harris Fellow, an award named after the founder of Rotary International.
Gov. Nathan Deal sent over a commendation. City Councilman Tibby DeJulio, who worked with Galambos for years to make Sandy Springs its own city, said the mayor doesn’t usually take “no” for an answer.
“When you work with Eva there is no compromise with quality. Everything has to be done right. Of course, it has to be done right this minute,” DeJulio said with a smirk. “There’s a wrong way, there’s a right way, and there’s Eva’s way.”
City staff unveiled a sign for a road that will lead to Sandy Springs future city hall. It will be called “Galambos Way.”
Then the mayor said goodbye to the City Council, her way.
Galambos is known for being focused and tenacious. She is not, however, known for being overly-sentimental. It’s just not her style.
But the public saw a moment of tenderness from the mayor on Tuesday. She explained that in her family, whenever there’s a special occasion, someone has to write a poem. She then read a poem she’d written about her fellow council members.
Here is her untitled poem written as a tribute to her colleagues, council members Dianne Fries, Karen Meinzen McEnerny, Chip Collins, Tibby DeJulio, Gabriel Sterling and John Paulson:
One event one right after another
We come together just like magic
Dianne is super party mother
She always gets it all together
Karen has always been a pro
On follow up questions a few galore
Trees and density need precedence
To serve and impress our constituents
I remember Chip’s own election
Hauling yard signs tripled every faction
He lists the pros and cons in his debate
And leads the council to a sound fate
Beware you petitioner with an Atlanta address
For good ole Tibby will promptly address
There is no way we can handle this matter
If you tell me it’s located in Atlanta
Gabriel hates eminent domain
But his “no” vote is in vain
Individual rights are his true passion
And these he pursues in his own fashion
(John) a fully qualified engineer
Because of him we have no fear
He is very welcome in our midst
Lake Forrest landslide will be fixed
It’s been a great and short eight years
We’ve tackled small and big affairs
We set a tone for those to follow
I have no fears about tomorrow
