Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we prepare to transition to new city leadership, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Serving as your mayor in our beloved community of Sunrise Beach Village has been an honor and a privilege. I am filled with appreciation and admiration for what we have accomplished together under the banner of “Together, We Can”. And together as a community, we worked hand-in-hand to make our town a better place for all. We overcame challenges, as well as celebrated wins and continued progress.
It’s with great respect and appreciation that I now address you all one last time as your mayor:
To the dedicated city staff, community members, volunteers, and elected officials I served with – your unwavering support and commitment to our town have been the backbone of our achievements. Your voices, actions, and hearts have shaped the path we’ve walked together, and I am thankful for the trust and faith you placed in me to help guide us on along the way.
From the onset, we embraced the motto “Together, We Can,” and indeed, TOGETHER, WE DID! Our journey was built on the pillars of transparency and collaboration, principles that have become part of the bedrock of our community’s success. We opened the doors to better communication, ensuring that every voice could be heard and every concern addressed. Together, we cultivated a culture where decisions were made not behind closed doors, but in the light of our shared values and collective vision.
Thank you to everyone for your ideas, engagement, and extra work. I know we have laid the groundwork for future leadership to continue to adapt to the increasing complexity of our community.
Through our steadfast commitment to work together, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones. Whether it was enhancing local infrastructure, fostering fiscal responsibility, or strengthening our community services, every step was taken with the principle that together, we are stronger, and together, we can overcome any challenge. Our achievements are a testament to what unity, transparency, and collaboration can accomplish.
As we welcome mayor-elect Rob Hardy and councilmember-elect Jeff Cook, in addition to re-elected councilmember Dan Gower, as well as Ann Starr and Mike Byrd who continue to serve, I am confident that our community will continue to thrive under their leadership. I encourage you all to extend the same kindness, support, and cooperation you have shown me. Let us unite in support of our new city leadership, ensuring a seamless transition and a bright future for our town.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve the community of Sunrise Beach Village. I am immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I eagerly anticipate witnessing the continued prosperity and growth of our beloved city. Together, we did! And together, we will!
With heartfelt gratitude and best wishes,
Mayor Chellie Stewart
