Edward Toledano
For Edward Toledano, co-owner of the Gillen House Bed & Breakfast and city councilman, adding the title of mayor of Maxeys means “continuing the country way of life with a modern twist.”
Toledano is running unopposed in the Nov. 5 election and will be sworn in at the first city council meeting of 2025. He will replace current mayor Warren Gilson, who has served as mayor the last eight years, and decided not to seek reelection this year.
Toledano’s decision to run for mayor comes from his deep appreciation for his community.
“It is such a helpful community that I want to give back and continue to let Maxeys be one of those wonderful little country towns that people always talk about,” Toledano said.
Toledano is looking forward to continuing to spread the story of Maxeys.
“Maxeys’ story is one of perseverance and volunteerism,” Toledano said. “It’s just a wonderful place to live, great community together, great people who support each other.”
The town has a population just shy of 230 people and one public business.
In the early 1900s, Maxeys supplied a booming cotton business. However, once the cotton business went away, the town blew away with it, Toledano said.
As mayor, Toledano plans to try to bring Maxeys back to life. This includes renovating community center buildings, continuing building the Firefly Trail and breaking ground on new businesses.
“(We’re) doing things to make it more of a city with things happening versus a city you drive through,” Toledano said.
Toledano moved to Maxeys in 2018 to open his bed and breakfast. In addition to operating a local business, Toledano has served four years as a city councilman.
He said his community involvement has prepared him for the role of mayor.
“I’m very familiar with the process and the things that we as council members over the past four years have been working to accomplish,” Toledano said.
One of these goals is to strengthen ties within and beyond Maxeys.
Toledano plans to hold quarterly events called Coffee With The Council, where residents can have coffee, donuts and snacks with city council members on Saturday mornings.
“Part of the programming that we’d like to put forward is to expand the relationship between Maxeys, the county and the other cities,” Toledano said. “You know, make sure that we all are understanding each other’s needs and desires and future plans so that we can work together to continue to enhance the cities in Oglethorpe County.”