Henry Ferguson - Mayor of Metamora

The Metamora Economic Development Corporation announces Mr. Henry Ferguson as the winner of the honorary Mayor of Metamora election today. Mr. Ferguson won with 706 votes/dollars collected. Runner up, and already appointed by Mr. Ferguson as the Vice-Mayor of Metamora in his first official act as Mayor, is Crystal Fraley, the four-year old granddaughter of local shopkeepers Roz and Don Fraley. Crystal, whose campaign was managed by Mike McCain, captured 502 votes/dollars.

The unusual election has been going on all summer long in Metamora as a fundraiser to help complete the construction of a new public restroom facility in the village. All together, the election fundraiser generated about $2,300 dollars. This is expected to be enough funds to complete the restroom facility construction and placing in service as soon as the local sewer system construction is complete later this year or early next year. The 12 candidates for mayor each paid a $20 registration fee to get on the ballot, then collected votes which were purchased for $1 each. Metamora is an unincorporated town, thus, the position of Mayor is purely an honorary one, with no legal standing or true responsibilities.

Third place went to “Grandma” Shirley Beyer, a local shopkeeper, and 4th place to Ms. Shelly Walls, a Metamora-loving tourist from Bedford Indiana who has been collecting votes for herself from her customers at the Bedford restaurant where she is a waitress. Both had well over 300 votes. Fifth place went to Whiffy the Skunk, a mascot of the Metamora “Smelly Gourmet” gift and coffee shop, with 221 votes.

The final two-hours of voting took place at the town park in Metamora on Saturday, with live music presented by Metamora’s own band known as the Baggy Bottom Boys. The gala event included free food and drinks donated in part by Pavey’s BP in Metamora, the IGA in Brookville, and Kroger’s in Batesville.

At the end of the voting time, Henry Ferguson was presented the Key to the Village of Metamora by Franklin County Commissioner Lou Linkel in a short but emotional ceremony.

In the photo: Franklin County Commissioner Lou Linkel (left) presents the Key to The Village of Metamora to Henry Ferguson (right), long-time resident of Metamora and now the Honorary Mayor of Metamora.