Clarkston Mayor Dies Christmas Eve

CLARKSTON, Ga. — Emanuel Ransom sat in the small office of his friend Howard Tygrett, the recently deceased mayor of Clarkston.

As vice mayor, Ransom had to assume to duties of mayor and serve out the rest of his term.

"We came together as a team," Ransom told Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot. "But it's like somebody took a brick out of the building. We can replace it physically, but not mentally. I mean ... it's a tragic loss for me and for our city."

Ransom's desk was piled high with invoices, bills and contracts as the business of Clarkston must continue. It also had Tygrett's name tag and several unopened Christmas presents he left behind.

Howard Tygrett, 40, died late Christmas eve of a massive stroke as he visited his parents in Texas. Tygrett was new to public office, having won the 2009 mayoral election in a controversial runoff. Clarkston city law seemed to state Tygrett would be mayor after winning a plurality of the vote in the general election. But the city attorney advised that law was in conflict with state law which calls for a majority vote. Tygrett won the runoff easily a month later.

Ransom got the call about the mayor's passing at 3:20 a.m. Christmas morning. At first, he thought it was a prank.

"It was like somebody tells you something and you actually look at him and don't believe it," he said. "That was my first reaction. Disbelief."

Ransom told Elliot he was the one who talked Tygrett into running for office and the two were close friends in city government. He promised Clarkston residents he would try to fulfill Tygrett's vision for the city, including downtown redevelopment.

"It would behoove me as the new mayor to make sure the projects he started come to fruition," said Ransom, who becomes Clarkston's first African-American mayor. "That's what I'm vowing to do with the help of my council."

Tygrett also built strong relationships in Clarkston's massive international refugee population. Amnia Aossmna, a Somali refugee who's been living in Clarkston for more than a year, came straight to city hall when she heard the news of Tygrett's death.

"He was doing well with them," she said of Tygrett's relationship with the refugee groups. "He used to cooperate with them. We were very happy with him, but today, this is sad news for us."

Flags are flying at half-staff outside Clarkston's city hall. Ransom said he plans on a memorial for Tygrett at the end of January.

WSBTV