Fortson tapped as LR vice mayor

By ArkansasOnline

The Little Rock City Board selected D. Eugene "Gene" Fortson to serve as the city's 23rd Vice Mayor. The selection to the two-year term was made at the body's biennial organizational meeting.

Fortson joined the board in September 2006, as he was appointed to fill a vacancy. He was recently elected to a four-year term in Position 9, an at-large position.

Vice Mayor Fortson is a graduate of UALR, the University of Arkansas and Northwestern University, and has more than 20 years' experience in the banking industry and another two decades of executive experience in manufacturing.

A founding trustee of Pulaski Technical College, Vice Mayor Fortson has served as a member of the Advertising and Promotion Commission and the Airport Commission.

He is married to the former Gaylia Causey; they have three children and six grandchildren.

The vice mayor presides at city board meetings when the mayor is not present and otherwise acts as mayor during the absence or disability of the mayor. The position of vice mayor was created in November 1957 with the switch to the City Manager form of government.

For more information see Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.