The Dunwoody City Council is making waves in the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), with Councilmember Tom Lambert recently taking oath as a member of the GMA Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term. Breaking new ground, Lambert is the pioneer from Dunwoody to secure a seat on the 63-member board, which consists of active city officials from across Georgia, including mayors and councilmembers. Sworn in during the GMA's Annual Convention from June 20-25, 2024 in Savannah, Lambert stepped into his role as the newly-elected District Three President – East. The City of Dunwoody reported Lambert's viewpoint, stating he is "honored and grateful for this opportunity to both represent and advocate for the interests of Dunwoody and all other cities within the district and across the state."
Alongside this monumental duty, committed to lead with experience and insight, GMA's Board of Directors under Lambert's guidance is poised to provide oversight and advocate for state and federal legislative interests on behalf of its 536-member cities. Praising his leadership, GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson said of Lambert, "Councilmember Lambert is well respected by his colleagues, has a wealth of experience and insight and will provide excellent guidance to the GMA Board of Directors," according to the City of Dunwoody. The board's role is deeply intertwined with addressing challenges and leveraging potential opportunities at the intersection of city, state, and federal governance.
In addition to Lambert's recognition, another Dunwoody City Council Member, Joe Seconder, was awarded the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute Certificate of Recognition, highlighting the strength and commitment of Dunwoody's local government leadership. Appreciative of the training that enhances his ability to serve the community, Seconder completed over 42 hours of training, including at least 18 hours from the required list and the Newly Elected Officials Institute, to earn the certificate. "I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in professional development courses for local elected officials in Georgia since they provide the opportunity to further my commitment to continuous learning to better serve our community," Seconder explained, as mentioned in the same news release.
The significance behind these development efforts was underscored by Hanson, who lauded Seconder's dedication as both an inspiration and a testament to the robust nature of GMA's local government training resources. These developments underscore the continuous push towards good governance in Georgia, where the focus is on providing leaders—and thereby their constituents—with the most innovative, resourceful, and responsive governance possible. The Atlanta-based GMA stands as a voluntary, nonprofit entity, advocating and educating for all of Georgia's 537 cities, now with the beneficent aid of Dunwoody's newly honored council members Lambert and Seconder.
