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Corinth Mayor takes over
Mississippi Municipal League
Published Sunday, July 19
By Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer
Corinth Mayor Jerry Latch has taken the reins as president of the Mississippi Municipal League.
Along with other city officials, Latch spent most of the past week on the coast for the 78th annual MML conference.
MML is the official nonprofit private organization of the state's cities and towns.
"It's an honor for the city of Corinth and myself," said Latch, who was in line to assume the presidency after serving as first vice president for 2008-2009.
He follows outgoing president Knox Ross Jr. of Pelahatchie.
As MML president, Latch will have an active role in advocating legislative action that is beneficial to cities across the state.
"We will meet in about two weeks to talk about our legislative objectives for the next year," he said.
Particularly during the next legislative session, the duties will take him to Jackson. Latch also anticipates visiting Washington, D.C. a couple of times while serving as MML president.
Three Corinth aldermen and several other city officials attended to participate in a variety of informative sessions on municipal government held during the conference.
Latch said MML offers training and guidance that is invaluable for new elected officials.
"When they get elected, they have been told by the citizens that this needs to be done and that needs to be done. You need somebody like the MML giving you insight on what you can and can't do," he said.
Now in his fourth term as Corinth mayor, Latch has served on MML's legislative committee, conference planning committee, nominating committee, executive committee and board of directors. During the past year, he headed the election committee.
Each year, the MML gives awards at the conference in the areas of public safety, planning and economic development, and city spirit. The northeast Mississippi town of Tishomingo was among this year's winners, taking the "City Spirit" award in the under 10,000 population category for its centennial tree project.
The project had a goal of planting 100 trees to replace trees lost to the ice storm, disease and other storm damage. It has surpassed its goal with trees or money donated for 168 plantings.
The MML lobbies the state and federal legislatures, provides education for municipal elected officials, provides technical support, represents municipalities with public and private entities, and encourages networking among members.
