One week ago it appeared no one was going to run for mayor of Avondale Estates, but on Wednesday Navy vet John Pomberg became the second person to qualify, and City Clerk Juliette Sims believes there may be more coming before Friday’s 4:30 p.m. deadline.

Pomberg, 69, was a commissioned naval officer from 1967 to 1988 and a prison safety officer for another 15 years at two different facilities in Iowa, where he lived most of his life before retiring and moving to Avondale in Oct. 2012.

He joins architect Paul Brown who qualified Monday. The special election to complete the unexpired term of Ed Rieker is March 17, a term that lasts only until Dec. 31, meaning another mayoral election is required on Nov. 3.

Mayor Pro Tem Terry Giager has served as acting mayor since Rieker’s October resignation.

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Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez