Roswell Leaders Back Resolution Clarifying Term Limits For Mayor

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Roswell, GA -- More than 100 residents waited for more than an hour Monday evening for Roswell leaders to approve a resolution clarifying their intent when it imposed term limits on the office of mayor.

The Roswell City Council at its Monday, Jan. 25 meeting voted 5-0-1, with Councilman Marcelo Zapata abstaining, to approve the resolution, a move that was met with a standing ovation and cheers from audience members.

Mayor Jere Wood recused himself from the debate and sat in the audience while Council members heard from more than a dozen residents and debated the resolution. Council member and Mayor Protem Kent Igleheart presided over the discussion.

The proposal for the resolution comes on the heels of resident Michael Litten filing a Fulton County Superior Court lawsuit contending Wood violated Roswell’s charter when he decided to seek a third, four-year term as mayor in 2005.

A judge ruled last week that the lawsuit against Wood can proceed.

City Attorney David Davidson gave a brief overview of the topic of term limits and how it surfaced on the radar.

The City Council in 2010 approved a resolution requesting state legislators to amend the charter to disqualify anyone who has served consecutive three, four-year terms from seeking the office of mayor.

Davidson stated the term limits would have taken effect in 2013, the start of Wood’s fifth term as mayor.

Davidson said he and council members at the time interpreted the measure as one that would not be retroactive, meaning it would not count against Wood’s previous terms in office.

Wood was first elected in 1997, and re-elected in 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013. While the General Assembly approved the change, Davidson said the change approved by the state didn’t exactly clarify that the term limits would only apply towards Wood’s future service.

“If it’s anyone’s mistake, it’s mine,” he said, when asked by Zapata who was responsible for the oversight.

Zapata argued that the Council shouldn’t take action on the resolution while the lawsuit was pending before Fulton superior court.

Council members Jerry Orlans and Nancy Diamond stated they felt it was in the best interest of the city for the Council to approve the resolution and move on to other issues.

Diamond wondered what the “end game” was for the lawsuit and for residents who were opposed to the resolution.

“I just don’t get it,” she said, adding there’s already a process in place for residents to contest an election.

Most of the residents who came forward to speak on the issue expressed support for Wood and for the resolution.

Former Council member Becky Wynn, who was defeated by Palermo in the November 2015 municipal elections, added approving the resolution would ”show that we are united behind our mayor.”

Ricky Spencer, Roswell’s former fire chief who also ran for the City Council last year, characterized the lawsuit and subsequent debate surrounding it a “mess.”

Spencer said he worked for Wood, former Mayor Pug Mabry and City Administrator Kay Love for years. He’s never had better bosses than Love and Wood, Spencer added.

Fellow resident Alfredo Ortiz characterized the lawsuit as ”obviously a personal vendetta” between Litten and Wood. Many companies who are looking at Georgia, specifically Roswell, as possible cities to relocate to could be turned off by the saga.

“This kind of stuff doesn’t make it attractive,” he said, referring to the city.

Former Roswell Public Works Director Stuart Moring, who worked for the city for 17 years, told the council and residents he ”hated” to see items like this placed on council agendas because “almost invariably, it was a distraction.”

Another resident, Bob Hagan, told Council members that the people of Roswell have spoken by electing Wood several times over the years. It’s now time for residents and city leaders to approve the resolution, move forward and work to unite the community, he added.

“Let’s do the work y’all were voted in to do,” he added.

However, according to resident Janet Russell, the United States is a nation of laws and the charter says three terms, so Roswell needs to abide by what it’s in that document.

The lawsuit and its backers are not questioning Wood’s love for the city and his passion for the job, Russell said. So, the resolution to affirm the intent was “just baloney,” Russell said.

She also blasted the calls made by residents and city leaders for citizens to come together.

“This city is seriously divided right now,” she said, adding the reason why Roswell has three new council members because citizens were “dissatisfied.”

Zapata echoed Russell’s comments, adding that when he decided to immigrate to the United States and subsequently become a citizen, he had to abide by a certain set of laws to achieve that goal. Roswell, he noted, should do the same.

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Image via city of Roswell