Ft. Deposit finally swears in new mayor, most of town council
Ft. Deposit has now sworn in a new mayor and most of its town council after having to hold elections for a second time.
Madelene Means was sworn in as mayor last night in the municipal complex auditorium. Four members of the town council also took the oath of office.
As Action 8 News has reported, voters had to go to the polls a second time after a judge threw out some results of the city’s August 2025 municipal election. The results of the mayor’s race and the District 2 town council race were thrown out because of the discovery of hundreds of illegal absentee votes. Questions were first raised last September, which led to a lawsuit filed by the town attorney.
In October, another election was set for January 13 for voters to decide those two races.
Two council members who ran unopposed in last year’s election had to run the town since November.
With this swearing-in ceremony, Mayor Means says she’s looking ahead.
“Fort Deposit has to focus on the task for the future. I have audits, inventories, budgets and structure to get in place. I want all the people to have a voice. I’ll be having town hall meetings talking about my vision, getting people’s inputs and then we’re going to move forward with the participation of everybody,” Means told Action 8 News.
After an organizational meeting, the council held a special called meeting to work out the details of a February 17 runoff election which will fill the town’s final council seat.
