The Lowdown: Mike Bodker

I bet you didn't know, … what Makes Mayor Mike Bodker tick?

By Marcia Caller Jaffe November 12, 2021, 1:47 pm Edit

After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.

Mike Bodker was born in Suffern, N.Y. and moved to the Atlanta area when he was five. He graduated from Lakeside High School and the University of Georgia, where he earned a BBA in accounting. Bodker was elected the first mayor of the newly-independent city of Johns Creek in 2007. In January 2018, he was sworn in for his fourth and final term.

Shortly after moving to the North Fulton area in 1998, he became involved in community affairs, as president of his homeowner’s association and as board member of the Johns Creek Community Association. Through his work there, he was appointed chair of the Northeast Fulton Study Committee and subsequently served as chairman of the Committee for Johns Creek. Those organizations studied the cityhood issue and eventually promoted the referendum vote.

Since his election as mayor, Bodker has spearheaded the formation of the North Fulton Municipal Association, which includes the mayors of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. He served as the NFMA inaugural chairman and is currently in his second year as chair. He also served as the chairman of the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association and on the Atlanta Regional Commission’s board of directors.

He was selected the 83rd president of the Georgia Municipal Association in 2015 and continues to serve on the board of GMA. Prior to his presidency, he served as the organization’s first vice president and past chair of the Revenue and Finance Committee, Federal Policy Council, and Legislative Policy Council. He was inducted into the Georgia Municipal Hall of Fame and serves the U.S. Conference of Mayors as vice chair of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, and Entertainment & Sports Standing Committee, as well as being a member of the boards of the Greater North Fulton and Johns Creek Chambers of Commerce.

Bodker is the father of twins, Jake and Keri, and a 4-year-old daughter, Emma Kate. He is currently a partner in nexDimension Technology Solutions and attends Chabad of North Fulton. Read on to learn more about Bodker, including how Mr. Mayor served pizza in a costume.

The best advice my dad gave me …
Your reputation is worth more than gold. You can build it for years, then lose it in an instant.

My foray into stardom was …
Making a video with Jeff Foxworthy.

My favorite cocktail is …
Tropicali beer.

If I have talent, it would be that I’m …
Good at delivering information while making people laugh.

One fun thing people don’t know about me is …
I was the costume character Billy Bob the Bear at Show Biz Pizza.

I’m reading …
News on the internet. Actually, I am very tactile and running around all the time versus reading books.

My kids say I’m too …
Serious.

What keeps you up at night?
Worrying about our country.

My most exotic vacation was …
Italy — seeing antiquities and eating my way through.

My last fashion disaster was …
I’m not winning any fashion awards; everything I wear is a disaster.

What will you be doing ten years from now?
Enjoying a life not in politics.