Galambos snags 84 percent of vote in re-election

By April Hunt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Eva Galambos swims 25 laps a day, beat back cancer last year and will continue to lead lead Sandy Springs as mayor for four more years.

With all 36 precincts reporting Tuesday, the 81-year-old retired economist captured 84 percent of the vote in just the second citywide election in Sandy Springs. She also garnered 84 percent four years ago.

“I am very happy," Galambos said of her early surge as she mingled with supporters at The Brickery restaurant. "I do feel it's sort of an endorsement of what we've done so far and we will continue on this path."

Galambos spearheaded the cityhood movement for more than 30 years before becoming Sandy Springs' first mayor in 2005.  For re-election, she faced 65-year-old Bob Brown, the owner of Red Baron Antiques who criticized her administration as not friendly to business; Donnie Bolena, 44, a motivational speaker who advocated scraping the city’s public-private model; and Warren Hull, a 61-year-old auto repairman who said he ran to gather more citizen input.

None could get enough support to unseat the woman that many voters think of, and even call, the mother of the north Fulton County city of 90,000.

Voters at some of the 25 polling places throughout the city -- where turnout ranged from 5 to 10 percent -- said they were rewarding Galambos for helping to set up the city and for keeping the promise of being able to offer more services than Fulton County, without raising taxes.

In the last four years, the city has tripled police protection, paved 70 miles of road and built more than 9 miles of parks. It also launched work on two major parks, all without increasing the tax rate.

“It’s very obvious she’s doing a good job,” said Shirley Thurmond, a retired school office worker who voted at High Point Elementary School, the city’s largest polling site with 5,154 eligible voters.  "I think she’s very capable and we’re very fortunate to have her.”

As mayor, Galambos helps guide the city but only votes when the six-member City Council ties. The council, which had three contested races, will have two new faces when it convenes next year.

Councilman Tibby DeJulio, the only incumbent to face opposition, beat back challenger Deborah Hull, daughter of mayoral candidate Warren Hull. DeJulio had 85 percent of the vote with all seven precincts reporting.

The City Council's two open seats also had two clear winners. In District One, engineer John Paulson trumped Jim Squire with 61 percent of the vote, with all five precincts reporting.

In District Three, attorney Chip Collins beat Willis W. Cleveland, a board member of the community group Sandy Springs Revitalization. He had 78 percent of the vote with all 10 precincts reporting.