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Benton Mayor Tom Farmer has secured official endorsements from the city’s police and fire unions as he campaigns for a third term in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. The endorsements come in a period of public safety expansion, including new facilities, equipment upgrades, and increased staffing levels across both departments. Read more below.
Farmer announced endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police of the Benton Police Department and Fire Local 2765 of the Benton Fire Department. In a campaign release, the mayor expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing the critical role both organizations play in protecting city residents.
During his tenure, which began in 2019, the Benton Police Department has grown to include 91 certified personnel and 10 civilian employees. To accommodate this growth, the police department relocated to the former City Hall building, while City Hall operations were moved to a former school building on River Street. The city has also continued to replace and expand its fleet of police vehicles.
A central focus of Farmer’s administration has been school safety. The city has successfully placed a certified school resource officer on every Benton school campus, as well as one at the Saline County Career Technical Campus.
The Benton Fire Department has similarly expanded, now employing 71 personnel. This includes the addition of nine firefighters to staff a newly constructed fire station located at Interstate 30 exit 114. The station, built on land donated by local resident Dan Moudy, was strategically placed to serve the growing area, which now houses the new Mountain View elementary and middle schools. Additionally, the city procured a new fire truck for Station 6 and anticipates the delivery of a new ladder truck by the end of August.
Despite the infrastructure renovations and personnel additions, Farmer noted that city tax and millage rates have remained unchanged for the past eight years. According to the mayor, all capital expenditures, equipment purchases, and safety improvements were achieved without implementing any new taxes on residents.
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Return to the main page for 2026 Elections at www.mysaline.com/2026-elections-campaign-announcements.
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