They’re mayors of side-by-side cities in north DeKalb. They’re faces of the “new cities” being created in the county. And they’re both named Davis, although they’re not related. Sometimes, though, their constituents can get a little confused about that.

Dunwoody Mayor Mike Davis says some people automatically assume he and Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis must be kin. “I have had people come up to me and say, “I’m so proud of what you and your son are doing in Dunwoody and Brookhaven…,’” Mike Davis said, with a bit of a harrumph.

And as Brookhaven was forming south of I-285, Mike Davis said people would ask him just how he could be mayor of both cities.

So, as the two mayors settle in to lead their young city governments through another year, we at Reporter Newspapers offer residents of the two communities a few ways to tell their mayors apart.

Mike Davis

Elected mayor of Dunwoody in 2011

Second mayor of Dunwoody (after Ken Wright, who served from October 2008 through December 2011)

Age: 59

Grew up in: Connecticut

Occupation: retired

On being mayor: “I don’t regret a minute of it. I would do it again. And I intend to.”

J. Max Davis

Elected mayor of Brookhaven in 2012

First mayor of Brookhaven

Age: 44

Grew up in: Brookhaven

Occupation: lawyer

On being mayor: “I didn’t realize how much impact you could have as a mayor or as a member of an elected group. The things we are doing have a definite impact on the quality of life of my fellow citizens. When you’re actually seeing real change happen very quickly, that’s very fulfilling. It’s exciting.”