Brookhaven's Third Mayor to be Sworn In

BROOKHAVEN GA -- John Ernst will become Brookhaven’s third mayor in its short history on Monday morning.

Ernst, along with District 1’s Linley Jones and Bates Mattison from the 3rd district, will be sworn in by DeKalb State Court Judge Mike Jacobs.

The ceremony will take place at 10:30 am at Brookhaven City Hall.

Ernst handily defeated another mayoral contender, Dale Boone, back in November. Incumbent Mayor Rebecca Chase Williams chose not to run for election after taking over from J. Max Davis, the city’s first mayor, who stepped down to run for state representative.

Ernst had major name recognition from his tenure as head of the DeKalb Ethics Board. Ernst resigned that position after the board failed to enact any significant punishments on Commissioner Stan Watson after he was found guilty of three ethics violations, reports WABE.

Ernst also picked up significant endorsements from several local officials, including DeKalb District 1 commissioner Nancy Jester and Brookhaven city councilman John Park, whose district 2 is home to several neighborhoods that were opposed to whole cityhood movement several years ago.

Jones was appointed by Williams to fill out her unexpired District 1 term after Williams became mayor. Jones was heavily involved in the Brookhaven cityhood movement, and had the support of Williams, who remains popular in the district.

Jones handily beat back a challenge from Eve Erdogan.

Mattison ran unopposed.