By Jim Buice
Enterprise Record

Since Bermuda Run became a town in 1999, John Ferguson has been the only mayor.
So when the November election arrived, many figured he was a shoo-in to claim his fourth four-year team as mayor against Ken Rethmeier, a political newcomer.
But not Ferguson, who was not fazed with losing the town’s top elected position to Rethmeier by a 298-241 margin.
“I was not surprised,” Ferguson, 73, said. “In fact, I had not planned on running. I told a lot of people I was retiring, and when it got down to the end, several people asked me if I would put my name on the ballot, and I did. I did not do any campaigning at all. I put out no signs. I did talk to a few people, but I was ready for retirement. It did not bother me at all.”
And on Tuesday night, he gave up his seat to Rethmeier, who came to Bermuda Run in 1998 to take a job with Wachovia, Ferguson’s longtime employer. He had enjoyed a lengthy career with Wachovia primarily in information systems and later in wealth management before retiring from the bank in 1996.
Now he’s leaving his main position for the last 12 years. Ferguson was an interim councilman, and Clyde Gardner served as interim mayor until November when Ferguson was elected as the first official mayor.
He looks back on his tenure with …