Citizens of Fort Deposit took to the polls on Tuesday, Jan. 13, to elect a new mayor and District 2 council members. When the ballots were counted, Madelene Means emerged as the town’s next mayor.
”I am humbled and honored by the trust our community has put in me,” Means said. “Now that the voters have spoken, it is time to move past the rhetoric of the past few months.
“My focus is on the work ahead. The town belongs to all of us. Regardless of who you voted for, all the members of our community are invited to build our future. Everyone is welcome. Me and the new city council are responsible to each and every citizen.”
Mean’s a native of Fort Deposit, defeated incumbent Mayor Jacqulyn Boone in the town’s special election with roughly 57%, 271 out of 470, votes cast. Of those, only five came in by absentee ballot — four for Boone and one for Means. Provisional ballots cast Tuesday will be delivered to the Lowndes County board of registrars by noon on Wednesday. and the board has seven days to review and verify addresses on the ballots.
Boone was elected the town’s first Black woman mayor in 2020 after serving 16 years as a town council member.