ENIGMA, Ga. (WALB) - After recent tension in Enigma’s town government, there’s a new face leading the way.

Enigma’s longtime mayor, Cecil Giddens, officially stepped down on July 18, 2025, and the council accepted his resignation at the meeting on Wednesday, July 23.

This all comes after the council and residents once asked the GBI to come in and investigate their local government, when checks paid to the city were found uncashed, and tensions rose at recorded council meetings.

But acting mayor Doug Webb says it’s time to do things to benefit the town.

“We all have to work together to agree on everything. It’s okay to disagree, but you have to talk about it sensibly like adults, and you know work through your problems, but I think everybody has a good positive outlook for Enigma, and I think it’s going to change and be a good start for us anyway,” Webb said.

“We’re getting a new program put in for the water bills and trash payments. We’re going to get a website so we can let people know what’s going on. They will be able to pay water and trash bills online if they choose, or there will be a kiosk inside city hall so they can walk in and pay. It’s just going to make it easier for a lot of people in Enigma.”

The word “easier” is exciting to Jamie Herman, who has been working to develop her animal rescue after an agreement with the council months ago. She hopes that with new leadership, she can focus on the safety and security of dogs in the town.

Herman said, “I absolutely think now it will be stress-free for a lot of the councilmen, and for the city of Enigma in itself. I think they will run it how I feel it needs to be run.”

Giddens served as mayor of Enigma for 38 years. He said that his plan was to make it to 40 years, but the accomplishments for the town and support from the community made each moment worthwhile.

“I know all of them, and they are proud of me, but I’m so much prouder of them. Things have been wonderful through the years. I have run 18 terms and lost one term. I love the people of Enigma,” he said.

Community members will honor former Mayor Cecil Giddens on Saturday, August 2, with a retirement celebration, recognizing his years of service to the town of Enigma.

Webb said, “I would like to say thank you to Mayor Cecil Giddens for the time that he served. He was here a long time, and I would just like to thank him for his service, and so would the rest of the council.”

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.