Members of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors made history earlier this month at the first meeting of 2024, when they elected Terri Bell as the first female to serve as president in the board’s 114 years of existence.
That decision was made on January 2, when supervisors voted 4-0 to elect Bell as president to take over that role for former president David Hogan, who was required to vacate his seat on the board after his run for Forrest County Tax Collector in last year’s county election. District 2 Supervisor Sharon Thompson initially made a motion to elect District 4 Supervisor Rod Woullard as president; however, Woullard turned down that offer, at which point Thompson abstained from the vote and the other four supervisors voted for Bell’s appointment as president.
“I am very honored that my peers chose me to lead the group, and I’m really excited about it,” Bell said. “I have been on a tour of Forrest County since August with the other two new supervisors (District 1 Supervisor Gentry Mordica and District 3 Supervisor Steve Stringer), and we have gone to every department, every building that Forrest County owns.
“We’ve talked to most employees to pick areas of improvement that they would like to see in the county and getting a total understanding of business operation of the county. We’ve really developed a good list of needs that we see, and we’re getting together (this) week for a work session to prioritize those to dive in and make some real positive changes for Forrest County. It’s just an exciting time to be there.”
Bell, who is the new District 5 Supervisor, decided to run for that position after former District 5 Supervisor Chris Bowen, who had represented that district since 2008, decided not to run for re-election. She is one of three new supervisors on the five-person board, along with Stringer and Mordica.
“I had always had an interest in serving our community, and I have done every charitable board you can imagine in this town to serve my community,” Bell said. “So I just felt like this was the next step to be able to impact and make a difference.
“It was just good timing when Chris decided he was not going to run. I would have never pursued it (otherwise), because he was an outstanding supervisor and did a great job.”
In addition, this new term marks the first time that two women – in this case, Bell and Thompson – have served at the same time on the Forrest County Board of Supervisors.
“We’ve got three fresh faces on the board – we’ve never had that before,” Bell said. “I just feel like it’s been lined up to make a positive impact on Forrest County, so I’m really excited about being a part of that.”
In her new four-year term, Bell is looking forward to working toward the board’s list of priorities, although nothing has yet been set in stone.
“I would be a little premature if I told you what those priorities are, because we have all not sat down as a group to discuss those,” she said. “There’s quite a few areas of interest of all of ours, and I could probably tell more of that (in the very near future).
“I can’t speak for the group yet, but I have in my mind things that I would like to prioritize, but I’m one of five (board members). So I’ve got to wait on my partners.”
In a questionnaire issued before last year’s election, Bell said one of Forrest County’s biggest challenges in the upcoming term will be effectively managing the allocation of the county’s funds.
“I am determined to ensure that taxpayer funds are used appropriately and responsibly, directing them towards projects and initiatives that have the greatest positive impact on our community,” she said. “Building consensus among fellow supervisors and stakeholders will also be crucial for success.
“I am committed to fostering open communication, collaboration, and constructive dialogue to
overcome any challenges we may face. Together, we can navigate these obstacles and work
towards a brighter future for Forrest County.”
Bell, a Republican, earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and a residential contractor’s license.
“I’ve had a sales organization since 1996, where you’ve got customers and you’ve got issues that come up with phone equipment and modems,” Bell said. “So I know how to take care of people; I’m really good of taking care of people.
“And that’s what (this supervisor position) is – it’s taking care of people, and also being able to work as efficiently as possible by minimizing expenses and improving your revenue.”
