MIDWAY — There wasn’t a passing of the gavel — outgoing mayor Levern Clancy Jr. joked it was being shipped — but there was the handing of a bible from the old mayor to the new mayor to cap a sweeping change for the city.
Malcolm Williams was sworn in as the next mayor of Midway, and an entirely new slate of council members — Vernon Donovan, Janet Jones, Annie Foskey and Rhonda Thomas — also took their oaths of office Monday at the John McIver Auditorium.
Williams, who gave up his council seat to run for mayor, is eager to work with a council with four newcomers to civic government.
“They have already been working in the community,” he said. “These are business owners. They are involved with the school system. So it’s not like they don’t know anything. The citizens voted for people who are involved in the community.”
The outgoing city council was on hand for the event — mayor pro tem Dr. Clemontine Washington and council members Stanley Brown and Henry Stevens.
“It has been a personally and professionally rewarding experience for each of us who have served our city through calm and through tumultuous times,” Washington said. “We have led through insufficient water, water leaks, sewer leakages, removal of dangerous trees, frivolous lawsuits, unfounded complaints, street patching and resurfacing, vicious hurricanes, thunderstorms, surprising snow, COVID, the construction of a new city hall and the closing and the re-opening of our fire department.
“Our citizens have supported us through their attendance at Midway Day festivals, food giveaways, the annual lighting of the Christmas tree, Miss Midway pageants, trunk or treat, the mayor’s motorcade for Georgia Regional Hospital and the swearing in services for police and fire,” Washington continued. “As we pass the torch to this new, exciting, eager mayor and city council, we know our city will continue to grow and be a safe haven for all people.”
For Clancy, who ran for a council seat after two terms as mayor, the swearing-in ended 20 years on the council. To mark the occasion, he borrowed a favorite phrase of Williams’ father, state Rep. Al Williams.
“This is the best day of my life,” he said. “It is truly a pleasure to serve as mayor and council member of Midway for 20 years. Eighteen of those years was great. Two of the years were tight but I got through it.”
Clancy also praised Washington, calling the longtime council member and mayor pro tem his “backbone.”
Williams too praised the outgoing council, stating they left the city in good shape. He also urged Midway residents to let them know something about their city when they are asked about it.
“Tell them we are between goodness and halfway to greatness,” he said.
Williams said he is willing to help the new council members with their roles, recalling how he approached being on council when he was first elected.
“What I want them to do is reach out to the surrounding cities and counties and make a friend with another council member,” he said. “They can learn from them. That’s what I did when I went to (Georgia Municipal Association) meetings. When I have questions on certain things, I stay on the phone with them.”
Clancy pledged to offer his help to the new mayor and council “24-7,” he said, and also gave a word of caution to the new members.
“January 1, 2026, your life is about to change,” he said.
