Seven city officials, including mayor, switch to GOP

FARMINGTON — Farmington’s mayor, five-member board of aldermen and chief of police are now Republicans.

Mayor Dale Fortenberry tells the Daily Corinthian he and the aldermen — who Fortenberry says were all elected as independents — had talked about joining the Republican Party for a long time. There is no party registration in Mississippi.

During the announcement at the city hall, Fortenberry described himself and the five aldermen as “country boys” whose lives and morals are influenced by their upbringing.

Farmington officials present for the ceremony included the mayor, aldermen Lowell Gann, Mac Grisham and Bill Hebert and police chief Anthony Holmes. Fortenberry says aldermen Johnny Potts and Ernest Cole were not present, but both are included in the party change.