Leaders in Action: Benton Mayor Rita Dotson

The following story is part of an ongoing series called Leaders in Action, a key part of the broader Regionalism Works campaign. The series shines a light on the power of collaboration—showing how Kentucky’s counties and cities, by working together through their Area Development Districts, are achieving far more than they ever could on their own.

When Rita Dotson first ran for Benton City Council, she wasn’t thinking about a long career in public service. She was managing a local law office on Benton’s downtown square, hearing daily concerns from neighbors—especially about the condition of the local park.

“I started interacting with a lot of people in the town and just looked up one day and said, ‘You know what, I think I would love to try to run for the city council and try to do some different things for the city.’”

Dotson was elected, served eight years on the city council, and eventually moved into the mayor’s office—where she has now served for more than a decade. Throughout her time in city government, one thing has become increasingly clear to her: small towns can’t do it alone. They need partners.

For the City of Benton, one of the most critical partners has been the Purchase Area Development District (Purchase ADD).

“Getting involved in organizations like the Area Development District has really improved what we’re able to do,” Dotson said. “There’s no way we could offer all the services they help us with on our own.”

As Benton’s mayor—and now as Chair of the Purchase ADD’s Board of Directors—Dotson has worked closely with the organization on a wide range of projects: securing grants, mapping infrastructure, supporting food banks, and pushing for road improvements across the region.

One project that stands out is the overhaul of Marshall County Caring Needline, Benton’s primary food outreach center.

“The building was in terrible shape; parts of it were falling in,” Dotson said. “The Purchase ADD helped us secure a CDBG grant, and they stayed with us through every step of the process—the paperwork, the council meeting, the funding transfers—everything.”

The Purchase ADD also played a key role in the region’s tornado response in 2021. Though Benton wasn’t among the hardest-hit cities, Dotson said the Purchase ADD staff reached out immediately to ask what local governments needed. Their building served as a coordination hub for emergency services and community leaders.

The Purchase ADD’s assistance has also supported infrastructure projects like a sidewalk expansion currently underway on the city’s west side. The project aims to improve walkability for residents in a lower-income area and began with early engineering support from the Purchase ADD.

“They helped give us an idea of the layout and cost so we could get a TAP grant,” Dotson said. “It’s been a long process, but they were part of getting it off the ground.”

Dotson also serves as president of the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC), a role that has broadened her understanding of how local governments across the state operate.

“You realize quickly that most of us are dealing with the same issues—infrastructure, revenue, public trust,” she said. “No one’s in it for the paycheck. We’re just trying to make our cities better.”

Balancing regional responsibilities with day-to-day city management hasn’t been easy, especially with a full schedule of meetings and travel. Dotson said she sometimes has to ask others to step in when conflicts arise, but she tries to give each commitment the time it deserves.

Asked what she wishes more residents understood about local government, Dotson pointed to the grant process.

“People think money is interchangeable—that if we get a grant, we can use it however we want,” she said. “But grants are specific. If it’s for water lines, that’s all it can be used for. It takes a lot of work just to get those.”

She also emphasized the importance of communication. Under her leadership, Benton has expanded its use of social media and public notices to keep residents informed.

“When I became mayor, there wasn’t much communication from City Hall,” she said. “Now, we’ve got thousands of followers on Facebook, and we use it to share everything from street closures to local events.”

Looking ahead, Dotson is focused on continuing infrastructure upgrades and expanding housing options for seniors. While not all projects involve the Purchase ADD directly, she said their support has been vital to Benton’s progress.

“I can’t say enough about the role they play,” she said. “They give small towns like ours a real shot at making things happen.”