Mountain Home Mayor Hillrey Adams will remain in office for a third consecutive term after the filing period closed with no challengers for the upcoming election. The absence of opposition settles the race before ballots are cast in November. Adams, who first took office in January 2019, will serve a new term running from January 2027 to January 2030.
Adams announced his re-election bid in February at Hickory Park, highlighting his administration's focus on the city’s parks system and other community improvements. “It’s truly been an honor to serve the people of Mountain Home the past seven years,” Adams stated at the time. “I have enjoyed every single day.”
The mayor has made the new community center at McCabe Park a hallmark of his time in office. Approved by voters in March 2021 through a temporary half-cent sales tax paired with a permanent quarter-cent tax for operations, the $36.2 million facility broke ground in December 2023 and opened earlier this year. The center includes a 35,000-square-foot gymnasium, an indoor track, a natatorium with three pools, an outdoor aquatic area featuring a lazy river and splash pads, a 30,000-square-foot convention center, and parking for 400 vehicles.
Parks and Recreation Director Daniel Baxley reported that the center’s usage has far exceeded expectations, noting 7,009 primary memberships signed up to date—nearly three times the original target.
Adams has emphasized the importance of enhancing recreational opportunities for young people throughout his tenure. Speaking during a construction tour last fall, Adams said, “You have got to have things for kids to do and you have got to have opportunities. You have to take care of the kids.”
Under his leadership, Mountain Home has seen a series of park upgrades alongside the completion of the community center. Improvements to Hickory Park were among the notable projects.
Two noteworthy milestones marked Adams’ achievements this week. Shortly after learning he was unopposed for re-election, he attended a ceremony honoring his role in the community center’s development. The family company responsible for constructing the facility presented Adams with a bronze plaque bearing his likeness.
City Attorney Roger Morgan, who has assisted multiple mayors over his 40-year career, spoke at the ceremony to highlight Adams’ dedication. “I don’t think anyone, after all that the mayor has done for the city of Mountain Home, could ever question his loyalty or where his priorities lie,” Morgan said.
Prior to his time in city politics, Adams served as Mountain Home’s postmaster and lived briefly in Jonesboro before pursuing the mayor’s office. His residence became a point of contention in early campaigns but has since faded in relevance as he has secured and maintained the community’s trust.