Surrounded by representatives of the business, nonprofit and civic communities as well as several elected officials from the county, state and other cities, Jere Wood today announced his intent to seek a fourth term as Roswell’s mayor.

“When I was first elected it was my vision to make Roswell the best place to live in Georgia,” Wood said. “I want to introduce a few of the leaders who have helped me realize that vision.”

Those citizens, who Wood invited to be recognized during the press event held at Roswell City Hall for his announcement, included two candidates for state senate, John Albers and Wendell Willard; Linda Schultz, a county school board member; a board member and two presidents of homeowners associations in Willow Springs, Saddle Creek and Brookfield West and pastors from World Harvest and Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist churches.

Others who were introduced by Wood included former city councilman Ed Tate, Teaching Museum founder Jacque Coxe, North Fulton Community Charities Director Barbara Duffy, Lynn McIntyre of the Chattahoochee Nature Center, and developers and Roswell residents Robb McKerrow and Lonnie and Malon Mimms.

Among the elected officials on hand were Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker, Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood, Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galmabos, Alpharetta City Councilman John Monson and Cobb County Commission Chairman and chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission Sam Olens, who is running for state attorney general.

According to Stacy Lofton, campaign manager for Roswell Councilwoman Lori Henry’s mayoral bid, not all of the Roswell residents in attendance for the press event were there because they supported Wood for mayor. “I’ve had a couple come up to me and whisper in my ear that they’re supporting Lori,” she said.

Henry is not Wood’s only competition. Councilman David Tolleson also has thrown his hat into the ring for the mayor’s seat.

McIntyre, who is on the homeowners association board in Horseshoe Bend, said she was at the event at Wood’s invitation and could not personally endorse any mayoral candidate. Because of her position with the nature center, “I have to be a neutral party. I want this race to be above board all the way.”

Asked if their presence indicated an endorsement of Wood’s candidacy, Lonnie Mimms and his father said they support “a lot of candidates.”

“This is a very touchy situation because we’re friends with all the city council,” the younger Mimms said, but added “I would like to see him [Wood] continue.”

The senior Mimms said Wood “has done a good job. He’s been a great leader.”

Bodker, who heads up the North Fulton Municipal Association, a think tank and activism vehicle for area mayors, said after the event ended he was “100 percent” behind Wood’s candidacy and referenced Wood’s “incredible coalition” of influential contacts.

“One thing I’ve learned that’s important, as a sitting mayor, is you need to have a reach beyond your borders. Jere has that reach,” Bodker said.

Former mayor Pug Mabry has gone on record as saying he is supporting Henry for mayor because in the 1997 Mabry-Wood mayoral battle, Wood said Mabry had been in office too long and if elected, Wood would serve only two terms.

“I’ve learned a lot since then,” Wood said when queried about that claim. He said it has taken him 12 years to bring some of his ideas, like the Mimosa Boulevard extension project, to fruition.

“I don’t plan to serve as mayor of Roswell forever, but there’s too much undone and I’m not comfortable leaving the city while it’s in transition. We had double-digit growth every year when I first took office, but it was a different city then. We have a split council, and we haven’t yet learned how to do redevelopment and we have transportation issues, and I don’t like to walk away from a job that’s incomplete.”

Regarding Mabry’s recollection of his opponent’s campaign promise to limit himself to two terms, “what I actually said was I believed in term limits. When I was elected, I followed through and brought [the issue of] term limits to council twice, and both times it was voted down.”