About Sandy Springs reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2013)
COMMUNITY Outgoing mayor, councilwoman receive tributes BY DAN WHISENHUNT danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net DAN WHISENHUNT District 6 Sandy Springs City Councilwoman Karen Meinzen McEnerny addresses supporters during a farewell party on Nov. 24. Two of the first people to hold elect ed office in Sandy Springs are making the rounds of a farewell tour. Mayor Eva Galambos and District 6 Sandy Springs City Council member Karen Meinzen McEnerny both decid ed not to seek re-election this year after serving two terms. Wendell Wil lard said a few words about Galambos, his col league and friend, during a Nov. 18 breakfast honoring her. Willard, a state representa tive and Sandy Springs City Attor ney, told Galambos that she’ll be hear ing similar tributes until she official ly leaves office in January. She is the city’s first mayor and served two terms before deciding not to seek a third. “I know you don’t like for people to fawn on you,” Willard said. “I want you to forget about it for the next six weeks.” The Sandy Springs/Perimeter Cham ber of Commerce organized the Nov. 18 event, held at The Retreat at Villa Chris tina in Sandy Springs. Galambos’ political and business persona is well documented. She was first elected in 2005 after spending years trying to get a Sandy Springs cityhood referen dum on the bal lot. She holds a Ph.D. in econom ics from Geor gia State Univer sity and a master’s degree in labor and industrial re lations from the University of Illi nois. Her husband is John Galambos, a retired gastroen terologist. She has three children and six grandchildren. City Councilwoman Dianne Fries told the audience that few people know Galambos’ nickname around City Hall: Eva Knievel. Fries recalled a few of her experiences riding in a car with Galam bos behind the wheel. She remembered a ceremony marking the paving of one of the city’s roads. When the crowd turned to see if the notoriously punctual mayor was on her way, they caught sight of her car lifting off into the air after she barreled over a speed bump. Other speakers said that Galambos often recruited them into serving on dif ferent boards for the fledgling city. Re fusing Galambos’ requests wasn’t an op tion, they said. Bruce Alterman, owner of The Brick- ery, said he met Galambos shortly after he opened his restaurant. “I’m still not sure how found myself on the board of Sandy Springs Revitalization a few weeks later,” Alterman said. “I found myself sitting across the table from Galambos on a sign committee.” Mayor-elect Rusty Paul, who served with Galambos on the city’s first coun- “If [Meinzen McEnerny] had wanted to stand again (for re-election), she would’ve won, and she would’ve won by a landslide. She’s always understood the issues that affect us.” - CHRIS CRAMER □ □□ Sandy Springs Youth Sports (SSYS) D )Co St S®fK£ball at the Morgan Falls Athletic Complex (450 Morgan Falls Place, just off Roswell Road) Now offering Coach Pitch/T-Ball starting at age 4! • 17 Batting Cages • 10 Fantastic Fields TONS of Parking • Easy, SAFE Drop-off/Pick-up areas Flex-pay options now available... Pay 25% down now, the rest in January! Visit www.sandyspringsbaseball.com for more information or to register 0 fs Early registration 4 with discount ends . January 4th! ^VV 4 | NOV. 29 — DEC. 12, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net
