Georgia Supreme Court Justice Shawn Ellen LaGrua swore in Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and all six council members Jan. 6, putting three new faces on the dais.
LaGrua, a Sandy Springs resident, said she wanted to thank all staff for their day-to-day work running the city, singling out the city’s police department for its “exemplary” protection.
The City of Sandy Springs, coming off its 20th anniversary in December, now has half of its panel as first-timers, bringing in some fresh air after several competitive races for each of the city’s seven elected positions.
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The oath of office requires officials to swear they are qualified and free of conflicting interests. It also requires pledging to support the U.S. and state constitutions, uphold local laws, and act in the public’s best interest.
Remarks from the mayor
Paul said he is excited to serve with city council veterans and newcomers, thanking the broader community for trusting him with the mayor’s office for another four years.
“I tell people, ‘I’m not important, my title is important,'” Paul said. “All of us hold these titles temporarily. We hold them in trust, and we hold them for the purpose of making this city better every day and improving the lives of the people that we serve. And when we mistake that our title becomes us, that’s when we get into trouble.”
The city’s longest-serving council member is now John Paulson, who has served District 1 in northeast Sandy Springs since 2010. While Paul served on the inaugural city council, he took a break from local office, before securing his first term as mayor in 2013.
Council members Melody Kelley and Melissa Mular were reelected to their seats in Districts 2 and 3.
Kelley said she is focused on her district in northwest Sandy Springs, including the redevelopment of the city’s North End, safety improvements along Roswell Road, and continued investment in trails and parks.
Mular said her areas of focus are North End redevelopment, expansion of the City Springs downtown district, investments in parks and trails, and emergency response times.
New faces join council
While incumbent council members in Districts 1-3 are returning for another four-year term, officials representing southern Sandy Springs in Districts 4-6 are first-time local legislators.
Council Member Frank Roberts, replacing Jody Reichel in District 4, is a retired Sandy Springs police sergeant, Vietnam War veteran, and a city resident since 2007.
Roberts said he is “not much of a speaker” and thanked residents for their support.
“I am a believer that we can do a lot of good things with the city as long as we have good people working for it,” Roberts said.
Council Member Mary Ford, replacing Tibby DeJulio in District 5, is a former president of the High Point Civic Association in southeast Sandy Springs and Chief Marketing Officer at CENTEGIX.
“I recognize that the citizens of our city are expecting a few things from me,” Ford said. “First, they’re expecting that we … maintain those things that make Sandy Springs special, the commitment to public safety, protecting our neighborhoods, and having a very well-run city.”
After thanking her neighbors and husband, Ford said she’s focused on what’s ahead, like ensuring “appropriate economic growth” through the city’s comprehensive plan rewrite in 2026.
Council Member Andrew Chinsky, replacing Andy Bauman in District 6, is an attorney serving as Associate General Counsel at The Aaron’s Company, Inc.
Chinsky, who lives in the Riverside neighborhood with his wife, Allie, and young children, said the community should be proud of leading the cityhood movement in metro Atlanta.
“Our city shines as a beacon throughout the state of Georgia, yet this moment presents us with new opportunities while we uphold our core functions, from public safety to street paving,” Chinsky said. “We face questions like, what kind of city do we want to become? How do we resist complacency? How do we maximize our talented resources? How do we invest so that young families and seniors can thrive, and how do we sustain the next generation to move us forward?”
Former council members Andy Bauman and Tibby DeJulio attended the swearing-in ceremony, as well as state Sen. Rashaun Kemp (D-District 38). Some 75 residents also attended.
In other business:
- The council approved a roughly $770,000 construction contract for the Mount Vernon Highway at Long Island Drive improvement project, which looks to realign the intersection and install a traffic signal. Public Works Director Marty Martin said the project will kick off in about six weeks and take a year to complete.
- Elected officials voted unanimously to require the Fulton County Development Authority to notify the mayor before acquiring properties within the city or engaging in property tax incentive projects. The resolution says the FCDA “shall not operate within the jurisdictional limits of the City of Sandy Springs without prior consultation and preliminary agreeance.”
- New council members were appointed to the Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority, a governmental body serving as a financing and ownership partner for major city developments.
- Paulson was reelected as mayor pro tempore, or vice mayor.
