There’s a new mayor in Fort Gay Louisa’s neighbor town

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

Councilman Ralph “Junebug” Dent, Jr. was voted unanimously by fellow council members to take on the role as mayor in a special meeting last night, Dec. 9, after they accepted the resignations of former mayor, Joetta Hatfield and town recorder/treasurer, Sheila Bowen.

Both Hatfield and Bowen were charged with multiple felonies, including fraudulent schemes, embezzlement, falsifying accounts, money laundering, and conspiracy.

Councilman Wade Cyrus was voted by fellow members of the council to take on the role as the recorder however, during an executive session the council was unable to decide if they would continue keeping the treasurer’s position linked to the elected town recorder position and will try and determine that, along filling the two now empty council seats in another special meeting Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m.

As of right now all members of the council including the new mayor and recorder will remain signatories over the banking account until a new treasurer is in place. Two names, one including Mayor Dent’s signature will have to be written on each check.

Both Dent and Cyrus will remain in their new seats until June 30, 2025. It is not known whether Dent will run in the next election to continue as mayor.

Both he, and Cyrus are no strangers to the town of Fort Gay. Dent has served on the Fort Gay Fire Department since 1985 and is the grandson of Harry Dent who was the town’s police judge in the 1970’s and early 80’s. Dent has lived in Fort Gay most of his life and been on the town council for 7 and a half years.

Dent said he will look back at what has been done to see what needs to be done to move forward.

“I’m want to re-group and work with the council to see where we need to go from here and get started on the things that need done first,” said the mayor.

Cyrus, who also grew up in Fort Gay, said he is one-hundred percent aware that the town is at a crossroad. “We will need to start at ground zero and move forward,” said Cyrus. “Just gonna need a moment to land on our feet. We have hired a CPA firm and will more than likely separate the treasurer’s position from town recorder, but either way with the CPA firm there will be checks and balances from here on out.”

Hatfield and Bowen are scheduled to be in court some time in mid-January.