GEORGETOWN, S.C. —  On this first day of a new year and decade, the City of Georgetown has a new mayor and  council member.

At a brief lunchtime ceremony Thursday, Jack Scoville was sworn in as mayor. Newcomer Jeanette Ard and incumbent Paige Sawyer also took the oath of office.

“I look forward to lots of good times and all of us working together to move the city forward,” Ard said before being sworn in by S.C. House Seat 108 Rep. Vida Miller.

Sawyer thanked his supporters for their trust for the past 12 years.

“I appreciate your friendship and I appreciate you being  here,” Sawyer said to the crowd that completely filled City Council Chambers. “I will do my best to represent all of you for the next four years.”

Scoville joked about being told by his brother that he is the first person who started a new job on a holiday.

He also said he was “stunned” at the number of people who showed up for the ceremony.

“I really thought there would only be five or six people besides the members of my immediate family,” he said.

Two former mayors — Doug Hinds and Tez Bonnoitt — were in attendance.

Scoville won the mayor’s seat by receiving 821 votes in the November election while write-in candidate Ron Charlton finished in a distant second with 358 votes.

City Council member Brendon Barber, who won another four year term, was unable to attend Thursday and will be sworn in at council’s regular monthly meeting Jan. 21.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com

Below, watch the swearing in and hear Scoville and Ard talk about future plans.