Roswell’s new mayor apologizes for angry email

Roswell’s new mayor says he was wrong for sending an angry email to the city administrator just weeks after election day in November.

Mayor Kurt Wilson took the oath of office in City Hall chambers earlier this week and will lead his first City Council meeting on Monday.

After beating former Mayor Lori Henry and resident Jason Yowell in the November election, he has vowed to take ownership of derailed city projects such as the realignment of Oxbo Road, and to also put residents’ interests first.

But he’s off to a rocky start.

Emails obtained by the AJC show Knighton contacted Wilson Nov. 23 about a detailed orientation program he was arranging for newly elected officials, and wanted to coordinate with him. In his reply, Wilson took issue with Knighton waiting three weeks after the Nov. 2 election to contact him, calling it “unacceptable,” and questioned the city administrator’s ability to do his job.

“I would like to know if this is a job you are really going to be able to execute at a high level for the city of Roswell and this incoming city council and mayor?” Wilson wrote.

The AJC held a video conference call together with Wilson and Knighton Thursday in which the mayor said he was wrong and wants to reset.

Wilson said he wrote the email out of frustration and not receiving a call or note from Henry following the election.

“I was frustrated knowing a transition needed to take place,” he said. “I was wrong. It was a bad email on my part. It was poorly written. It was a poor response ... When I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”