Dickens sworn in as Atlanta’s 61st Mayor, Blacks assume governance roles in other metro communities

The 61st Mayor of the City of Atlanta was officially sworn into office on Monday, January 3, 2022, during a ceremony held at Dickens’ alma mater, Georgia Tech.

Dickens placed his hand on a Bible held by his mother and took the oath of office to lead the city of Atlanta for the next four years.

The Mays High School graduate earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master’s of public administration degree in Economic Development from Georgia State University.

Dickens’ mayoral role follows former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who elected not to run for re-election.

Dickens, 47, defeated City Council President Felicia Moore in the runoff election to win the top spot in Atlanta government. He had served on the Atlanta City Council since 2013, having been re-elected in 2017.

In his speech, Dickens focused on the city that was “Too Busy to Hate” as he said he hopes to make Atlanta safer by reducing crime and improving safety technology. He also hopes to invest in green spaces, infrastructure and improve city operations. 

“Together, we will write a new chapter for Atlanta, for this beautiful city in a forest”, said Dickens. “I stand here today as living proof that a little kid from Adamsville could dare to dream to be mayor and grow up to fulfill that dream by becoming the 61st mayor of Atlanta.”

As Dickens was sworn in as Atlanta Mayor, he was joined by two others in Metro Atlanta who made history by becoming the first Black persons to serve in their City’s government.  

On Jan. 4 in a virtual ceremony, Brookhaven swore in businessman John Funny as its newest council member who will represent District 4. 

Winning with 80% of the vote, Funny became the first Black person to serve on Brookhaven’s governing body. Funny, who previously served as the chairman for the city’s Social Justice, Race, and Equity commission and on the city’s Planning Commission, is the President and CEO of Grice Consulting Group, a transportation engineering consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta. 

With his niece, Ania Funny, holding his family bible, and his siblings witnessing from the chamber, Funny was given his oath of office by a personal friend, Honorable Darrin P. Gayles, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Florida, who traveled to Brookhaven to perform the ceremony.  

In his remarks, Funny thanked former District 4 Councilmember Joe Gebbia and promised citizens that he will be a champion on issues including Smart Growth, Transportation, Green Space, Affordable Housing, and Public Safety, among other things. Brookhaven also re-swore in John Park as the council member for District 2. 

Melody Kelley, a chemistry professor at Georgia State University Perimeter College, is Sandy Springs’ first Black elected official since the city was incorporated in 2005.

With her daughter holding the oath of office document that she read aloud, District 2 Councilwoman Kelley was sworn in at City Hall by Georgia Supreme Court Justice Shawn LaGrua. 

Kelley said it was important to have her 15-year-old daughter, Kiara, by her side during the ceremony and added that Sandy Springs has to do a better job of engaging youth in the inner workings of local government. 

Councilwoman Melissa Mular, District 3, along with incumbents Mayor Rusty Paul, District 1 Councilman John Paulson, District 4 Councilwoman Jody Reichel, District 5 Councilman Tibby DeJulio, and District 6 Councilman Andy Bauman were also sworn in at City Hall.

Mayor Dickens names transition team

Capping the week off, Mayor Dickens named his transition team that will be led by his campaign’s top strategist and a former opponent in the mayor’s race. Howard Franklin, CEO of political strategy group Ohio River South and Dentons attorney and former mayoral candidate Sharon Gay will co-chair the transition team. After finishing 4th in the race, Gay endorsed Dickens in the runoff election. Franklin served as Dickens’ senior strategist during his campaign. 

The role of the transition team is to provide advice to the Dickens administration as it fills top management positions at City Hall and crafts its political agenda. Five honorary co-chairs for the transition team were also named by Dickens including former Mayor Sam Massell; Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring; Georgia State University President Brian Blake; Federal Reserve of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic; and Bank of America’s President of Global Commercial Banking Wendy Stewart. The full transition team is expected to be named next week. Said Dickens, “I am pleased to have the experience and thoughtful group of individuals serving on my Administration’s transition committee. I am especially thankful to both Howard Franklin and Sharon Gay for serving as the Co-Chairs for this team. Their leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we build an Administration focused on moving Atlanta forward and unifying the City.”

Dickens will name the other members of his Transition Team next week.