(Atlantic) On January 1, 2026, Atlantic will have a new Mayor. Rob Clausen will take the oath of office at Wednesday’s Atlantic City Council meeting. Current Mayor, Grace Garrett, did not seek re-election for a second term. Clauson threw his hat into the ring, and Clauson ran unopposed in November.
Three other City Council members will also take the Oath of Office, including Incumbent City Councilmen Jim Behrens and Dana Halder. Newcomer Jeremy Butler was appointed to fill the seat following Gerald Brink’s resignation in September. Butler, who ran unopposed in the November election, will also be sworn in. Clauson and the three City Councilmen’s new terms begin on January 1, 2026.
Clausen says the first thing every community should strive for is safety and security. He adds that for a community to be pleasant and a place people want to live in, you need to feel safe while moving around in it. He said that, in that respect, the most important things are the police, Fire, and EMS.
Clausen says the next important thing is fiscal responsibility. He says the city council needs to be a good steward of the taxpayers’ checkbook and ensure funds are spent appropriately and transparently.
Clausen says economic development is another key issue, and backs the Vision Atlantic transformative housing, YMCA, and Childcare Development project, ensuring it reaches the finish line.
When asked about his background and how it would translate to the role of Mayor, Clausen noted that he owned his own construction business, which gave him experience managing employees, understanding building processes, and working with specifications and blueprints. He added that he is familiar with handling change orders. Clausen has also served as president of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and as a board member for the Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center.
“I believe I bring a great deal of experience to the table,” Clausen said. “One thing I always tell people is that you can count on me to tell the truth. Whether you like it or not is up to you—but it will always be the truth.”
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m.
