There was not even standing room only left in the Hinesville City Council chambers Thursday afternoon as Karl Riles took his oath of office.
Riles was sworn in as the mayor of Hinesville, succeeding Allen Brown, whose second of two four-year terms ended. Riles won election in November with 68% of the vote.
He said being elected mayor of his hometown was “personal” to him.
“This is a big day for me. To be standing here, representing the city I love, is big,” he said. “It means a lot to me.”
Riles gave up his District 5 seat to run for mayor and his successor, Jose Ortiz, was sworn in as the first Hispanic to be elected to office anywhere in Liberty County. Riles joked that Ortiz has small shoes to fill in District 5.
Riles also congratulated the new and current council members for running campaigns devoid of bitterness and finger-pointing.
“I want to thank you for staying above the fray, for showing everyone that Hinesville politics is not national politics, that we do not have to be disagreeable when we disagree,” he said.
Nothing the city’s motto of “Home for a Day or a Lifetime,” Riles relayed the story of two people with no prior connection to Hinesville who chose to make it their home. The couple, Daniel and Eryn Hasson, came to Hinesville for a wedding.
“Those people are gone,” Riles said of the couple whose nuptials the Hassons came to witness. “They’re still here. They love it here.”
But his new friends also would like to see one or two more things to keep people interested, and Riles also said the city needs to find ways to keep service members thinking about making Hinesville home when their time in the Army ends.
“It’s important for us to make sure we welcome everyone who comes here and that we give them the option to make this home for a day or lifetime,” he said. “And that all starts with making it personal.”
With an overflow audience in the chambers to witness the inauguration — among them, Riles thanked his former teachers and his family members in attendance — the new mayor also joked “I want to thank whoever gave the fire marshal off today.”
Riles said the city will continue to work with other city councils and continue its strong relationship with county government.
The city’s new mayor said the area is in a prime position to take advantage of the growth anticipated for the Coastal Empire and said he looks forward for more opportunities in downtown Hinesville.
“We have to be in the position to make people want to stay here, want to choose Hinesville. We have this very nice local feel,” he said. “One thing we want to make sure we do is that down here, in the heart of our city, we want to capitalize on the renaissance that downtowns are experiencing throughout Georgia. We start that by making it easier for small businesses to grow and develop here in downtown.
“Together we can do this,” he added. “We can advance Hinesville forward. Progress is coming. Development is coming. Growth is coming. Let’s make sure we are positioned to take advantage of that.”
As one of his first acts, he presented the gavel Mayor Allen Brown used to his immediate predecessor. Brown spent 16 years as mayor, split up among a pair of four-year terms. Under the city’s charter, mayors cannot serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.
Brown also endorsed Riles in his mayoral campaign.
“I feel like I’m leaving with things in excellent hands,” Brown said. “I too like Karl grew up here and love this place better than New York City.”
As for the new mayor, he reiterated his desire to make Hinesville stand apart in the Coastal Empire and not be overshadowed.
“I will promise I will work hard to make this place the greatest you could ever choose to live,” Riles said, “and when people ask where you’re from, you will not say ‘near Savannah,’ you will say, ‘I am from Hinesville.’”