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HONORING EVA
PHIL MOSIER
City Councilman Tibby DeJulio, left, presents Mayor Eva Galambos with
a flying pig statue during a Dec. 8 going away party in Sandy Springs.
This pig has flown, but was its
origin an ‘urban myth’?
BY DAN WHISEMIWT
danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net
The story is told every time a new city
forms in Georgia.
According to Sandy Springs May
or Eva Galambos’ autobiography, “A
Dream Come True: My Very Good
Life,” state Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlan-
ta) once said “Pigs will fly when Sandy
Springs is a city!”
Since then, the flying pig has become
a symbol of Georgia’s new city move
ment. Sandy Springs regularly holds
meetings in the Flying Pig Boardroom.
Galambos, retiring as mayor, received
a statue of a flying pig as a parting gift.
When residents in Brookhaven voted
to incorporate in 2012, state Rep. Tom
Taylor brought a toy flying pig to the
victory party.
But Fort says the story is just not true.
Fort said recently he never said any
thing about flying pigs. ITe said to his
knowledge, no one in the Democratic
Party said it. Fort said the quote is most
likely an “urban myth.”
“Whoever is saying that is misre-
membering ... ,” Fort said.
Galambos referred questions about
the flying pig to state Rep. Joe Wilkin
son (R-Sandy Springs), who said he was
present 13 years ago and heard Fort say
it. Wilkinson said Fort made the com
ment with a chuckle, in a jovial way,
when Wilkinson brought up the subject
of Sandy Springs during a gathering of
the Fulton County delegation.
“We were discussing many things,
but of course, I was pushing Sandy
Springs, and we started talking about
stuff and the comment was made,”
Wilkinson said.
On behalf of the Perimeter Community
Improvement Districts, thank you,
Mayor Galambos, for your service,
leadership and dedication to the City
of Sandy Springs.
Your legacy of collaboration is truly
appreciated by Perimeter.
Experience
life @ the
Center
PERIMETER COMMUNITY
Improvement Districts
WWW.PERIMETERCID.ORG
ities, and I hope she respects my dedi
cation to the mission she set out,” Fox
said.
Even Galambos’ biggest political foes
have a grudging respect for her abilities.
State Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta,
was one of the most high-profile oppo
nents of Sandy Springs incorporating.
He said he’s still not convinced that the
city, with its unique model of outsourc
ing public services to private companies,
is the success Galambos and her sup
porters claim.
There’s no doubt in his mind about
the caliber of his opponent, however.
“You know, she is a worthy adversary.
I’ll say that,” Fort said. “I respected her
energy and focus and determination.”
Galambos’ focus and determination
has won her respect, but also led to accu
sations that she retaliates against people
that disagree with her. In 2011, for ex
ample, she convinced the council to de
lay buying right of way for a streetscape
project because some property owners
along the road wanted to rent space to
billboard companies.
DeJulio said many people have the
wrong impression of his friend.
“She has fought for the city for many,
many years, and she never gave in, and
she has given that appearance of being
tough,” DeJulio said. “But she’s also a
very giving and a very caring person.
She cares more for the people of Sandy
Springs than you can imagine.”
She showed rare emotion during the
Dec. 17 city council meeting.
Galambos read a poem she’d written
about her fellow council members. It
was a tender moment from someone not
known for being sentimental.
She’s less poetic when it comes to dis
cussing her own legacy.
When asked what she’d like people to
remember her for, Galambos didn’t flat
ter herself.
“I don’t prescribe what they should
remember about me,” Galambos said.
“That’s up to them.”
www.ReporterNewspapers.netl DEC. 27,2013 — JAN. 9, 2014 | 11
