Sandro Mabel was inaugurated as the new mayor of Goiânia on January 1, 2024, during a ceremony held at the Center for Culture and Events at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). The former businessman and deputy state legislature won the mayoral race with 353,518 votes, defeating his opponent Fred Rodrigues (PL) with 55.53% of the votes cast. Mabel assumed office alongside vice-mayor Coronel Cláudia and urged collaboration among the newly elected 37 city councilors during this inaugural event.
During the ceremony, Mabel affirmed the need for urgent action, stating, "Goiânia has urgency and there is much work to be done. This is a mission I undertake with great responsibility, and I will fulfill it." He indicated cleaning the city as one of his immediate priorities, launching citywide cleaning campaigns starting the weekend following his inauguration. "We want to start with cleaning the city, and within months, trash will be a thing of the past," he emphasized.
Vice-Governor Daniel Vilela praised Mabel's capabilities, noting, "Mabel is prepared; he is the right person to make Goiânia return to being the reference for quality of life it once was." Mabel's administration will feature seven women appointed to various secretarial positions, reinforcing his commitment to gender representation.
Facing challenges within the municipal administration, Mabel has outlined plans to tackle the dire state of health services, which he described as "in crisis." Mabel promised to stabilize the health infrastructure, assuring the public, "There will be no lack of medicines or doctors; we will organize all the health units." He also committed to decreasing the chronic shortage of school placements for children, targeting enrollment for at least 5,000 children by March 2024.
Despite his ambitious plans, Mabel faces significant scrutiny, as he contends with legal challenges related to his election. The Goiás Electoral Tribunal had imposed penalties on Mabel’s candidacy and declared his team, including Governor Ronaldo Caiado, as inelegible for eight years on grounds of abuse of political power. Mabel's legal team is appealing this decision, which did not prevent him from taking office but casts uncertainty over his tenure.
Expressing gratitude for federal support, Mabel acknowledged the assistance received from the federal government for health funding, stressing, "We have received help from the federal government, and it will help us pay for doctors and nurses." The senator Jorge Kajuru also highlighted the approval of R$ 80 million to bolster local health services.
Mabel indicated intentions to improve urban mobility within Goiânia, planning to expand bus lanes and improve traffic flow with electronic traffic signals. He is also set to introduce bike lanes and promote the integration of scooters within public transport. “We want to unify traffic systems to make commuting more efficient for residents,” he stated.
The event featured around 3,000 attendees, including various dignitaries from local and state government entities, and was characterized by festive elements such as music and light displays. Mabel’s engagement with councilors emphasizes his desire for collaboration among governing bodies to facilitate effective and responsive city governance.
Mabel’s profile as both mayor and businessman has raised eyebrows, and he has stressed the necessity of addressing fiscal responsibility as part of his strategy. He promised hard decisions to mitigate spending, pledging to rectify the operational deficits currently plaguing the city. "We will adopt strict measures initially, but they are necessary for sustainable growth and repair of our administration," he stated.
While his inauguration signaled hope for revitalization within Goiânia, Mabel recognized the hurdles ahead, reiteratively stating, "Let's work hard collectively for the community. With your help, we can restore pride and happiness to our city." He noted the importance of maintaining open channels with residents, ensuring their voices are heard, and issues tackled efficiently.