The Franklinton Mayor and Board of Aldermen held their last regular-season meeting of the year on December 8, 2020. The final gavel of this meeting represented the end of two public servants with a total of 34 years of service to Franklinton. Mayor Richard Dillon and Alderman John Daniel were each defeated in the November 3, 2020 election. Dillon failed in a bid for four more years as Alderman while Daniel lost a narrow race by 52 votes to become the Town's next mayor. Dillon spent the majority of his career in the automobile business. A graduate of Mt. Hermon School, he married Diane Magee Dillon and the couple had three children over the years. Dillon first ran for election in 2008 and was elected as a Town Alderman. He was reelected in 2012. In 2016, Dillon ran a successful Mayoral campaign. He finishes with 12 years of service to the citizens of Franklinton. Daniel graduated from Franklinton High School before entering the U.S. Army. After his discharge, he began work at Dairymen, Inc. where he oversaw office computers and worked with check writing for dairy farmers. He served as a fieldman for the last two of his 40 years of service there. Daniel married Sara Simmons Daniel and the couple had two children. He began a quest for public service in 1996 where he finished sixth in the Alderman's race, one spot from being elected. In 2000, Daniel ran again and was elected. He would be reelected in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. In total, Daniel served Franklinton's citizens for 20 years. Many thanks go out to Mayor Dillon and Alderman Daniel for their total of 34 years of service to Franklinton. In addition, thanks to everyone who has offered themselves as a public servant for our town. All of you have made yourselves available to help make our town a better place and that is appreciated, regardless of the final totals in the ballot boxes.
