Praise for Mayor Galambos: ‘On Her Watch We have Come so Far’

Accolades for Mayor Eva Galambos will continue to pour in until year end when she hands over the reins of the city, after eight years in office, to Mayor-elect Rusty Paul.

“It’s been a real privilege, Eva, to have spent the last 20 years of my life working with you, working beside you, taking direction being told when I make mistakes,” Paul said.

On Monday, business leaders sang the praises of Galambos, who led a 30-year effort for the incorporation of Sandy Springs, and humorously pointed to the Mayor’s known candor at a breakfast hosted by the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce and the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts at Villa Christina.

Cory Jackson, SSPC board chair presented Galambos with a lifetime achievement award for being a ‘leader, innovator and humanitarian."

Galambos' Way of Getting Things Done 

Bruce Alterman, owner of The Brickery Grill and Bar recounted how he met Galambos back in 1992 long before the incorporation of Sandy Springs.

“The then-chairman of the Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce points to her and said, ‘Watch her, she’s trouble,’ “ Alterman recalled. “Fear being the great motivator that it is, I immediately walked up to her and introduced myself.”

In short order, Galambos convinced Alterman to serve on the Sandy Springs Revitalization board and a subcommittee for a sign ordinance.

“I woke up one morning and said ‘How the hell did I get here?’ That was my first opportunity to watch her, and I’ve been watching her ever since. It was and is truly a privilege to be able to [be a] fly on the wall, to watch you and your smarts and your tenacity. God knows you have the tenacity,” Alterman said.

Kym Hughes, executive director of Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism recalled a Chattahoochee River excursion that the Mayor and her husband John took in July 2008. Beforehand Galambos had expressed a desire to see more folks get back on the river and appreciate it as a local resource, Hughes said.

Hughes grew nervous as soon as the couple set out on the river and eventually sent park rangers to look for the couple. They were fine, and Galambos assured her of that when they returned.

“We do this all the time,” Galambos told Hughes. And that was the point, Hughes said. “She really didn’t need an event coordinator and a National Park Service lady to be watching out for her. She made that clear. On her watch we have come so far.” 

Hughes went on to say, “Thank you for making Sandy Springs the global economic engine that it is. I know you didn’t need my help, but I’ve got to tell you that when you’re on my watch, I’ve got to keep my eyes open."

Galambos' shoes likened to John Wooten, Bear Bryant 

Mayor-elect Paul recalled the force of Galambos’ determination from the time she sought his help in the referendum for Sandy Springs’ cityhood, to his City Council run, to her urging him to run for her office. He likened his replacing Galambos to the men who followed UCLA coach John Wooten and University of Alabama’s Bear Bryant.

“Anybody remember who came after those two guys? I will probably be just as forgettable,” Paul said.

'Even today, after eight years, her favorability rating is 8-1.'

Perhaps the most notable comment of the breakfast was Paul’s recollection of Galambos’ favorability ratings after Sandy Springs’ referendum for cityhood was passed. He remembered his own rating as golden under normal circumstances at 6-1.

Galambos’ was 14-1.

“Somebody wanted to run against her for mayor. I said. ‘Look you spend $1 million and hammer her and cut her support in half, she’ll still beat you 7-1,” Paul recalled.

Even today, after eight years, her favorability rating is 8-1, according to Paul. “And that shows the depth of love and appreciation and absolute just affection that this community has for you. And it’s been a real honor for me to have served for you,” Paul said. 

Galambos said she was overwhelmed by the comments. “I think the reason it’s been a pleasure to be the Mayor of Sandy Springs is because the people are so special,” she said. “This is a special community. There is a maturity. There is a willingness to listen to each other and get along. And it is a shining light that other communities can aspire to. So all of the wonder things that I’ve enjoyed in the last eight years are really the result of the people of Sandy Springs.”