District 4 Council Representative
A Brookhaven resident since 2010, District 4 Councilman John J. Funny was elected in November 2021 and sworn into office on January 4, 2022. Councilman Funny will serve a four-year term and will be up for re-election in 2025.
Born and raised in Georgetown. South Carolina, Councilman Funny is the 11th of 11 children in his family. He attended South Carolina State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Councilman Funny received a Master of Public Policy/Urban Planning degree from the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy.
For nearly a decade, Councilman Funny worked with one of the nation’s leading engineering and planning firms. Assigned to the firm’s Atlanta office, Councilman Funny consulted with government agencies throughout the United States and abroad on city and urban planning, traffic engineering, transportation planning and transportation engineering projects.
With his education and years of work experience, Councilman Funny launched Grice Consulting Group in 1995 and serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer. The company is an internationally recognized city/urban planning, traffic engineering and transportation engineering consulting firm with its corporate headquarters in Atlanta. With over 30 years of professional experience, Councilman Funny oversees the firm’s day-to-day operations and corporate business-related matters including strategic business development and strategic planning for growth.
Councilman Funny’s long record of community engagement and service in metro Atlanta is well known among community stakeholders. His resume includes his former role as Chairman on Brookhaven’s Social Justice, Race and Equity Commission, a group that addresses diversity and equity in the community including a review of the city’s mission statement, hiring practices, contracting practices and policing practices. Councilman Funny also spent eight productive years on the Planning Commission for Brookhaven, which contributed to many of the positive outcomes the city and its citizens now enjoy. In addition, Councilman Funny served on the City of Brookhaven Police Foundation Board. Other community roles include serving on the Emory-DeKalb Medical Hospital Authority and the immediate past President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Eta Lambda (Atlanta) Chapter. He also is an avid supporter of his alma mater – South Carolina State University. His support of SCSU allowed him an opportunity to serve as the National Alumni President and a member of the SCSU Board of Trustees.
Recent Appointment:
- Councilman Funny has been newly appointed to serving on the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) inaugural Equity Advisory Council for the 2022-2023 year.
Councilman Funny's Goals:
- Collaborate with community stakeholders to identify policies and partnerships for planning new parks and recreation facilities that reflect our world class vision in District 4.
- Champion Brookhaven’s sustainability plans and protect our environment.
- Bring new businesses and opportunities to our community while maintaining our small-town character that makes us special.
- Support development within neighborhood and business districts that minimizes or eliminates any negative impact to residents or business owners.
- Improve transportation for all in Brookhaven including motorists, cyclist, pedestrians, and public transit by developing a transportation system which integrates safety and operational efficiency within our existing neighborhoods and retail area.
- Enhance the availability of affordable housing in Brookhaven and work to build more housing options.
- Work with law enforcement to continue the trust and community policing partnerships within Brookhaven
