During her State of the City address on Thursday, Tybee Island’s Mayor Shirley Sessions announced she will not be running for re-election.”What an honor an honor it has been serving Tybee,” Sessions said. “For me personally, I think it’s always good to get new vision, to get new thought processes. I think it’s important to encourage that.”Sessions said she had never intended to serve more than one term as mayor.”I had goals I wanted to accomplish and I have accomplished those. I still have a few left and I think we will get that done by the end of the year, but I never planned to have a career … as mayor,” Sessions said. Sessions discussed several of the goals she feels she’s already accomplished Thursday.”I personally am very pleased with the accomplishment of getting a 15-year extension of our Tybee Beach re-nourishment. That will be something we need desperately. I am also pleased with the $2.2 million in grant money we just received from the federal government,” Sessions said. That grant money is for a new Safe Shelter that will be built on the island. It will keep people safe in the event of a major hurricane.Beyond discussing her accomplishments and her intention to not run for re-election Thursday, Sessions also spoke about the recent Orange Crush event. She discussed what the city is now doing to be better prepared for any future pop-up events.”We are working strongly, aggressively with our state and local leaders to help Tybee have more control over the traffic, Highway 80, the beach capacity,” she said. “We’re also asking that the Mayor of Tybee have the authority to call a state of emergency if needed without having to wait.”Sessions said they’re also asking representatives to pass legislation that gives local municipalities the power and control to manage or stop pop-up events.”Both of our state representatives said, ‘Absolutely, we will sponsor that. All we need is a resolution from city council and it needs to be unanimous.’ I feel certain we’re going to get to that,” Sessions said.At the end of the day, Sessions wanted to make it clear Thursday that she feels Tybee is in a strong place.”I wanted to make sure the public saw that because it’s easy to see the negativity, especially in today’s environment, but I think sometimes that gets in the way of all the great things Tybee has going for it,” Sessions said.Sessions said if anyone in the city wants to run for mayor, they have her full support.”I hope those of you who may know someone who may like to take up the challenge, I will give you my blessings and just pat you on the back,” Sessions said.
During her State of the City address on Thursday, Tybee Island’s Mayor Shirley Sessions announced she will not be running for re-election.
“What an honor an honor it has been serving Tybee,” Sessions said. “For me personally, I think it’s always good to get new vision, to get new thought processes. I think it’s important to encourage that.”
Sessions said she had never intended to serve more than one term as mayor.
“I had goals I wanted to accomplish and I have accomplished those. I still have a few left and I think we will get that done by the end of the year, but I never planned to have a career … as mayor,” Sessions said.
Sessions discussed several of the goals she feels she’s already accomplished Thursday.
“I personally am very pleased with the accomplishment of getting a 15-year extension of our Tybee Beach re-nourishment. That will be something we need desperately. I am also pleased with the $2.2 million in grant money we just received from the federal government,” Sessions said.
That grant money is for a new Safe Shelter that will be built on the island. It will keep people safe in the event of a major hurricane.
Beyond discussing her accomplishments and her intention to not run for re-election Thursday, Sessions also spoke about the recent Orange Crush event. She discussed what the city is now doing to be better prepared for any future pop-up events.
“We are working strongly, aggressively with our state and local leaders to help Tybee have more control over the traffic, Highway 80, the beach capacity,” she said. “We’re also asking that the Mayor of Tybee have the authority to call a state of emergency if needed without having to wait.”
Sessions said they’re also asking representatives to pass legislation that gives local municipalities the power and control to manage or stop pop-up events.
“Both of our state representatives said, ‘Absolutely, we will sponsor that. All we need is a resolution from city council and it needs to be unanimous.’ I feel certain we’re going to get to that,” Sessions said.
At the end of the day, Sessions wanted to make it clear Thursday that she feels Tybee is in a strong place.
“I wanted to make sure the public saw that because it’s easy to see the negativity, especially in today’s environment, but I think sometimes that gets in the way of all the great things Tybee has going for it,” Sessions said.
Sessions said if anyone in the city wants to run for mayor, they have her full support.
“I hope those of you who may know someone who may like to take up the challenge, I will give you my blessings and just pat you on the back,” Sessions said.
