CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Seven members of the City Council and Mayor Joe Pitts were sworn into office Wednesday afternoon during a special session at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center.

Six of those members are returning after securing their seats in the November election; the council will see one addition with Deanna McLaughlin taking the Ward 2 seat.

McLaughlin previously served three terms on the City Council, representing Ward 2. She was first elected in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010 and 2014. She ran as a write-in candidate in the November election after Vondell Richmond was declared ineligible to run for re-election because of questions about his residency.

“I am very grateful to be back on the City Council. I am grateful to people who are trusting me with another opportunity to serve them to the best of my ability,” said McLaughlin during the special session. “I look forward to what we can accomplish together for our constituency in the next four years.”

Brian Zacharias (Ward 1), Ambar Marquis (Ward 5), Wanda Smith (Ward 6), Travis Holleman (Ward 7), Stacey Streetman (Ward 10) and Joe Shakeenab (Ward 11) were all re-elected. Zacharias, Marquis and Shakeenab sailed through their races uncontested.

Each councilmember attended the special session where Pitts administered the oath of office. City Judge Charles Smith administered the oath of office to Pitts, who was reelected to a second term after defeating David Allen and A.C. “Big Sarge” Lopez in November.

“Serving in elected office, especially a local government office, is a great honor,” Pitts said. “I look forward to continuing the progress we have made over the past four years and will work diligently to ensure our city is safe for everyone. While we have enjoyed tremendous prosperity, we still have work to do.”

Wanda Smith was nominated for mayor pro tem by Pitts and was appointed unanimously by the council.

Ceremonies featured the Clarksville Fire Rescue Honor Guard posting the colors, prayer delivered by Pastor Katherine Minor Walker of New Jerusalem 5-Fold Ministries, and the national anthem sung by Lavon Bracey.

The new City Council will hold its first regular session on Thursday, Jan. 5.