Congratulations are in store to all of the winners of Tuesday's municipal elections in Cobb County, and to those who pushed for and voted to pass the $25 million parks bond in Marietta.

The highest-profile race of the day was for mayor of Marietta, and former state Rep. Steve "Thunder" Tumlin did as expected and waltzed past two opponents with 80 percent of the vote. Tumlin enters office as a breath of fresh air after eight years of often sulphurous mayor-council relations. He has the temperament to get the council back on track and also boasts a deep knowledge of the city and its government, courtesy of his tenure as chairman of the city school board and service on the Board of Lights and Waterworks.

His goals include the badly needed strengthening of the city's dishwater-weak code of ethics and making city government more transparent.

"Number one, I listen," he said. "Two, I can hold my tongue when I have to. I historically don't burn my bridges. I want to walk a tight path, a strait path, walk with integrity and walk humbly, and listen to the citizens and work with the city council."

Tumlin will have one new face on the council, that of former Councilman Johnny Sinclair, who defeated incumbent Ward 3 Councilwoman Holly Walquist by a solid 55-to-45 percent margin. Sinclair won despite the news that liens had been placed on his property by the IRS for failing to pay $70,000 in income taxes.

Ms. Walquist's consolation, as it were, will have to be that voters agreed with her signature issue, the need to upgrade and enhance the city's parks. The parks bond passed by a bare 59-vote majority out of 4,777 cast. It's hoped that new Mayor Tumlin will steer the council away from the past east side/west side battles about how the proceeds should be spent.

Meanwhile, incumbent Ward 5 Councilman Anthony Coleman edged past a challenge from former Councilman James Dodd and first-time candidate Chris Johnson to win another term without a runoff. And arguably the night's biggest winner of all was Councilman Van Pearlberg, who easily withstood a challenge from developer Wes Godwin, winning with 89 percent of the vote.

Elsewhere on the city ballot, commodities trader Logan Weber and businessman Stuart Fleming both won election to open seats on the city school board.

Down in Powder Springs, incumbent Councilman Ra Barr was defeated by newcomer Cheryl Sarvis and Nancy Hudson defeated Steve Lahr for an open seat. And newcomer Trudie Causey upended 16-year incumbent Councilman David "Bo" Traylor. And up in Kennesaw, electrician Jeff Duckett defeated Frank Cullins for an open seat.

With the elections in the rear-view mirror, now is the time for elected officials to focus on listening to constituents, wiping the slates clean with their fellow officials and getting started on fulfilling all those campaign promises. Time to get to work!