New Demopolis mayor, councilmen take oaths of office

District Judge Vince Deas administered the oath of office Monday morning to Woody Collins, the newly elected mayor of Demopolis, and the five men who will serve with him on the City Council.

Speaking for the Council, Mayor Collins said, “We want to thank all the citizens of Demopolis for the faith they have handed us. We’ve been elected to do your bidding, and I don’t want one single person in this town to think that they’re not welcome to talk to any one of us.”

He added, “We’re going to do what we feel in our hearts is the best for our community for the next four years.”

Judge Deas first called each councilman by name, and as they stood with right hands raised, repeated their oath of office. Sworn in were returning councilmen Charles Jones Jr., Nathan Hardy and Bill Meador Jr., and new members David McCants and Jim Stanford.

Jones, who in his capacity as mayor pro tempore, had called the session to order, then turned over the gavel to Collins, and the first official meeting of the Council began.

For the initial order of business, the Council reelected Jones as mayor pro tempore. Collins announced that Council would continue to meet on the first and third Thursdays of each month, but the work session would be only 30 minutes before each meeting instead of an hour.

He assigned the council members to various committees, but invited them to let him know if they wished to change.

Delayed until the Nov. 19 meeting was the appointment of administrative officers and employees. Those appointments are “a big, big step,” said Collins. “A decision like this shouldn’t be made so hastily.”

Postponing the appointments will give the new members of the Council a chance to meet some of the people, he added.

After taking care of other business required at the beginning of the change of administration, the meeting was adjourned.