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New Cumming mayor, two councilmen sworn in
Officials to attend their first city meeting Jan. 16
Troy Brumbalow
Mayor Troy Brumbalow is sworn-in to office on Tuesday evening by City Judge Rich Neville. - photo by Kelly Whitmire
Alexander Popp
Updated: Jan. 4, 2018, 5:01 p.m.

The Cumming City Council will look a little different now that three new officials have taken office.

On Tuesday evening, more than 100 local residents were in attendance at the swearing in ceremonies for Mayor Troy Brumbalow, Post 1 Councilman Chad Crane and Post 2 Councilman Jason Evans at Cumming City Hall. This is the first time in office for all three, and they each defeated incumbents for the seats in 2017.

Chad Crane
Councilmen Chad Crane was sworn in to office on Tuesday. - photo by Kelly Whitmire
Brumbalow, who defeated long-time Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, expressed gratitude for those who served before him.

“I want to take a moment to thank all of those who have served before me: Mayor [Ford] Gravitt and other councilmen,” Brumbalow said. “We all look forward to the challenges ahead. We’re excited, and we just want to do great things for the city and always be held accountable.”

All three were sworn in by Chief Judge for the City of Cumming Municipal Court Rich Neville with an oath to the city and another to the state. 

“It’s an important ceremony, and it’s important because the elected officials profess to the citizenry their pledge to follow the state laws and the constitution of the United States,” Neville said before the ceremony. 

Brumbalow and Evans (who beat long-time Councilman Quincy Holton) were elected on Nov. 7. That night, Crane and then-Councilman Chuck Welch ended in a rare tie of 441 votes each.

In a runoff on Dec. 6, Crane won outright with 340 votes to Welch’s 212.

“I feel very excited and very anxious and relieved,” Crane said after the ceremony. “Campaigning was a long, hard-fought battle, especially with the tie and everything I had to go through. So, I’m happy that it’s over [and] looking forward to getting to work.”

Like Brumbalow and Crane, Evans said he was ready to get to work.

Jason Evans
Jason Evans was sworn in to office on Tuesday. - photo by Kelly Whitmire
“I’m very excited to get sworn-in and ready to head to office and get started,” he said. “[We had a] very passionate turnout [and] a lot of positive energy.”

Among those who came out on Tuesday was Carrie Patterson, who campaigned for all three and said she was encouraged by the number of people who showed up.

“It’s fantastic to see standing room only tonight,” she said. “[I’m] very excited by the turnout. I hope we continue to see this kind of turnout at city council meetings, and I’m very excited about our future.”

The new officials will serve in their first meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.