Medlin named Supervisors Board President for 2026
HERNANDO, MS – In a tradition of rotating leadership, the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors officially selected District 1 Supervisor Jessie Medlin to serve as Board President for 2026. The decision came during the board’s first meeting of the year on Monday in Hernando.
Medlin, the county’s longest-serving supervisor, takes the gavel from District 2 Supervisor Mark Gardner, who presided over the board throughout 2025. In a simultaneous move, the board elected District 3 Supervisor Ray Denison to serve as Vice President for the 2026 term.
A Smooth Transition
The meeting opened with outgoing President Mark Gardner expressing deep gratitude for the county’s staff and leadership. Gardner specifically highlighted the work of Road Manager Bob Jarman and new County Administrator Andrea Pettigrew.
“I’m blessed to serve on a board where we have a tough problem, we pray about it, and we thank the Lord,” Gardner said. “We don’t always agree on everything, but when we disagree, we disagree respectfully, and we trust one another.”
Following Gardner’s remarks, District 4 Supervisor Lee Caldwell nominated Medlin for President and Denison for Vice President. The motion passed unanimously with a second from Supervisor Gardner, who was praised by his colleagues for his “excellent job” and “hard work with communication” over the past year.
Experience at the Helm
For Jessie Medlin, this is a familiar role. Having served on the board since 1992, Medlin has held the presidency several times, including terms in 1995, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2012, 2016 and 2020, and now 2026.
“I’ve done this several times,” Medlin told the room after taking his seat at the center of the bench. “I might not do it like everybody else does it… but I’ll attempt to do it [and] try to keep everybody informed.”
Medlin, the District 1 representative covering Olive Branch and eastern DeSoto County, is known for his “pay-as-you-go” fiscal philosophy. During his previous tenures, he has overseen major infrastructure milestones, including the expansion of Church Road and Hacks Cross Road, and has consistently advocated for balanced budgets without tax rate increases.
The Board of Supervisors meets on the first and third Monday of each month at the DeSoto County Administration Building in Hernando.
