Bedford County has elected Middle Tennessee’s first African-American county mayor. Democrat Eugene Ray beat Independent Mike Fischer with 63 percent of the vote.

Ray is a native of Bedford County. He served on the county board of commissioners for 27 years, including 16 years as chairman. The real estate broker will take charge of a county concerned with how to manage its rapid population growth.

When AC Wharton took the helm of Shelby County in 2002, he became the state’s first-and until now, only-black county mayor. Yesterday, he was elected to a second term in office.