Toccoa Names 2015 Mayor, Vice Mayor

The Toccoa City Commission puts its leadership team in place for the upcoming year.

Monday, city commissioners unanimously voted to name Terry Carter as Mayor and Evan Hellenga as Vice-Mayor for 2015.

Traditionally, the commission rotates the positions of Mayor and Vice-Mayor amongst the five commissioners on a yearly basis.

Both Carter and Hellenga are in their first terms on the commission, as Carter began serving in 2012 and Hellenga began serving this year.

Carter has served as Vice-Mayor this year during Gail Fry’s year as Mayor.

He said he is excited to take on the role of mayor for the year ahead.

“I am grateful for my fellow commissioners, for the confidence they have in me to step in the role of Mayor,” said Carter. “Mayor Fry has done an excellent job this year and I look forward to serving the city.”

Meanwhile, Hellenga said he looks forward to his role for 2015 as Vice-Mayor.

“I think I have a steep learning curve here because I am still finishing my first year on the commission, but it is a great group of folks to work with,” said Hellenga. “The city staff has been nothing but helpful to me. I think good things are going to happen.”

Carter said the city commission will get together early in the year and look at what it wants to work on accomplishing in 2015.

“There are a lot of projects on the plate, from dredging Davidson Creek to continuing work on Currahee Street and things in between,” said Carter.

Carter’s term as Mayor and Hellenga’s term as Vice-Mayor both officially start on January 1, 2015.