`BUBBA' BECOMES MAYOR

`BUBBA' BECOMES MAYOR

FRESNO, Calif. (Wireless Flash) -- Californians are continuing their long tradition of electing actors to political office. Voters in Fresno, California, have elected actor Alan Autry -- best-known for his role as "Bubba" on TV's "In the Heat of the Night" -- as their new mayor. The 48-year-old actor has lived Fresno most of his life and says he decided to run because he thought it was time to give something back to his hometown. Autry hopes to use his showbiz connections to convince movie studios to shoot in Fresno because many folks there need jobs. He's also planning to continue acting -- but only in movies that depict Fresno in a positive light. Autry will take office in January.