The City of Petal is seeing a slight change in leadership, as Ward 6 Alderman Craig Bullock has been selected to take over as mayor pro tem for Ward 2 Alderman Steve Stringer, who will be inaugurated to the Forrest County Board of Supervisors in January.
That decision was made at the October 5 meeting of the Petal Board of Aldermen and took place immediately after the vote.
In his new role, Bullock will work closely with Mayor Tony Ducker and will lead board meetings in any event of Ducker’s absence.
“It’s great; I’m excited about it,” Bullock said. “It’s just another opportunity to serve a little closer with the mayor going forward, and just to be available however I can to help assist him and the city, so I’m looking forward to it.
“So nothing will significantly change with my duties. I’ll conduct meetings (if the mayor isn’t there) and do certain things at city hall if needed.”
Bullock graduated from Petal High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from William Carey University. He currently owns A1 Graphics, located on North Main Street in Petal.
Bullock started on the board following g a special election in 2011, following the death of Willie Hinton, who held the position at that time. He was elected to Ward 6 in 2013.
Stringer graduated from Petal High School in 1983, at which point he began working for his father, who at the time owned Bug Master, a pest extermination company. In 2007, Bug Master merged with Locke Extermination, and Stringer became the owner of that business in 2007.
He was elected as Ward 2 Alderman in 2001 and was chosen as mayor pro tem in 2009.
In the August 8 Republican primary election, Stringer defeated Burkett Ross, who currently represents District 3 on the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, to earn that position. As Stringer will run unopposed in the November general election, he will be sworn into his new seat on the board of supervisors in January.
“I think I’ve worked hard to get elected to the county board of supervisors, and I appreciate all the work that Mr. Ross has done,” Stringer said. “I’m just going to try and keep doing the right thing for the taxpayers of Forrest County in District 3.
“I feel like Craig was the logical choice to take over (as mayor pro tem), because he has served his ward for 12 years, and I think he’s earned that and is the perfect choice for the job. I had a great time (on the board) and I think we’ve come a long way, and we have definitely grown during my term, and I was honored that people had faith in me to continue that job.”
