Athens, Tennessee, gets new mayor, vice mayor, council member

Screengrab of Athens City Council / Athens City Council members elected a new mayor, vice mayor and swore in a new member Nov. 19, 2024, in Athens, Tenn. Pictured, from left, are newly-elected council member John Duggan, new Mayor Larry Eaton, council member Steve Sherlin, council member Dick Pelley and new Vice Mayor Jordan Curtis.

By Ben Benton November 20, 2024 3 min read

The city of Athens, Tennessee, has a new mayor, vice mayor and council member as the panel appointed new leadership this week during an organizational vote and swore in newcomer John Duggan.

But the internal election process that occurs every two years wasn’t without some drama.

Former Vice Mayor Larry Eaton was appointed to the mayor’s post, and Jordan Curtis, who was reelected in November, was appointed as vice mayor. Curtis and Duggan defeated Perry McGowan for the two seats up for election in a close three-way race. Outgoing council member Frances Witt-McMahan didn’t run for reelection.

Curtis nominated Eaton for mayor, with longtime council member Dick Pelley rising in opposition.