Denis Shortal was sworn in as Dunwoody mayor at a packed City Council meeting Jan 4.
It was standing-room-only at Dunwoody City Hall and the crowd cheered and gave Shortal a standing ovation after he took his oath of office from Judge Richard McCully.
Shortal, a former council member, defeated incumbent Mike Davis for the mayoral post.
More applause and another standing ovation occurred after Councilmembers Terry Nall, John Heneghan and Lynn Deutsch took their oaths of office. All of them were re-elected to the council.
“Communication is mandatory here. It is key to us being successful,” Shortal said in a short speech. “And respect is a two-way street.”
In an interview after the short meeting adjourned, Shortal said he wants his administration to bring the city “together as a family.”
“We need to talk to each other and keep the lines of communication open. We’re going to do everything aboveboard,” he said.
Shortal’s first “material” priority is to pave some roads, he said.
“One of the things I heard loud and clear was the number one priority is to pave streets. So I want to up the paving budget and I will work with the council,” he said.
–Dyana Bagby
Did the new mayor invite the rest of city council to make comments on their own? Or does he do all the talking for everyone else?