NATCHEZ — On Monday the board voted — and they want Henry.

At the first meeting of 2009, the Adams County Board of Supervisors re-elected Henry Watts to act as the board’s president.

Watts’ nomination came from supervisor Darryl Grennell and the vote was unanimous.

“I appreciate the 5-0 vote,” Watts said. “It’s humbling.”

Watts said he has high expectations from himself, and from the other board members, to live up to.

But any goals Watts wants to reach as president, he’ll have to do this year, because it will be his last year as president.

Just before Watts’ nomination was made, the supervisors went into executive session, citing personnel matters, to discuss the future of the board’s presidency.

Watts said it was during that meeting that the supervisors discussed who would be the next president, but did not decide on the issue, and decided that after Watts’ term ended, the supervisors would rotate responsibility as president.

Supervisor Thomas “Boo” Campbell said he favored the rotation system because it gives the newer members a chance to act as president and disburses the responsibility.

“We want new folks to try it out,” he said.

Supervisor Mike Lazarus said he liked the rotation system and was pleased to see the board working together.

“I like the harmony on the board,” he said. “We’re all working together and I like that. It’ll help us to get more accomplished.”

And Lazarus said splitting the responsibility means splitting the stress.

“It’s a hard job,” Lazarus said. “It comes with a lot of work and a lot of stress.”

But with just one more year of Watts in office, Campbell and Lazarus are confident the board will reach its goals.

“Henry’s thorough,” Campbell. “You know he’s going to ask a thousand questions.”

For 2009, Watts said his primary focus will be the sale of Natchez Regional Medical Center.

But with the majority of that sale expected to be complete soon, Watts will be looking to the county roads.

“Our real priority is to get the roads resurfaced,” he said.

Watts said he plans to spend as much time as necessary finding funding sources for that work.

Grennell was unanimously elected vice president.