The Rome City Commission opened the new year Monday by selecting its leadership for 2026, beginning with the election of a new mayor.
Commissioner Jim Bojo was chosen to serve as mayor following a 5–4 vote during the commission’s first meeting of the year. Bojo received support from commissioners Craig McDaniel, Harry Brock, Wayne Robinson, Jill Fisher and cast a vote for himself.
Commissioners Elaina Beeman, Vic Hixon, Bill Collins and March Cochran supported Cochran for the mayoral position.
The commission also elected Wayne Robinson as mayor pro tem. Robinson secured the role with a narrow 5–4 vote over Beeman.
In other organizational business, the commission voted to reappoint Sammy Rich as city manager. A slate of city officials, department heads and authorized agents was also approved, continuing many current appointments across city operations, public safety, utilities, finance and administrative services.
Among those reaffirmed were Joe Smith as city clerk, J. Anderson Davis as city attorney, Chris Jackson as municipal court judge, and Troy Brock and Denise Downer-McKinney as fire and police chiefs, respectively. The commission additionally approved banking institutions, publication designations and operational contracts tied to city services and facilities.
Later in the meeting, commissioners placed proposed regulations for new convenience stores and gas stations on first reading. The ordinance is expected to return for a second reading, public hearing and final vote at the commission’s next meeting later this month.
