By Staff
HIS LAST TERM n When his current term ends this summer, Mayor F.D. Harbour will have served six consecutive terms as mayor of DeKalb. Harbour announced he will not seek re-election. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
March 3, 2001
DEKALB Six consecutive terms as mayor of DeKalb haven't dampened Mayor F.D. Harbour's enthusiasm for public service.
He just thinks it's time to let some younger people hold the reins of government, so the veteran office holder, first elected in 1977, has announced he will not seek reelection.
Born and raised in DeKalb, Harbour said he will not be bored. He has a private timber and cattle business to run.
Not one to "pat myself on the back," Harbour said he couldn't have done his job alone.
Harbour said he's also been blessed with a good team of countywide officials. From county supervisors to elected and appointed officials in courthouse offices to aldermen and other town officials, he has been "surrounded with good people to work with."
He said if he could go back, he might do some things differently "like most of us would, whether it be personal, private or public," but with the help of his aldermen, he has endeavored "to do the best we could with what we had to do with." He said he has enjoyed being mayor.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.