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New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

New City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night as outgoing members were recognized during a regular scheduled meeting. (May 24, 2022)

Plainview City Hall was packed Tuesday night as loved ones and supporters gathered to support the outgoing and incoming City Council members.

The event kicked off with a reception before the new council members were sworn in and their predecessors were recognized with plaques and the opportunity to say a personal goodbye.

It was a bittersweet ceremony with some tears shed by outgoing members as they shared messages of encouragement for the new council and recognized the work of city staff and the leadership of City Manager Jeffrey Snyder.

“It’s always sad to see good people leave a job that they did extraordinarily well at,” said Mayor Charles Starnes.

The city has undergone many changes through their administration, he noted. There were infrastructure changes as well as additions of amenities for the city – like the Plainview Aquatics Center.

“They did a fine job,” he said before letting each now-former council member have their turn at the podium.

Nelda VanHoose, Larry Williams, Norma Juarez and Teressa King were presented with plaques inscribed with the years they served.

City Secretary Belinda Hinojosa administered the oath of office to new council members Mary Elizabeth Dickerson (District 1), Steve Martinez (District 2), Mike McDonough (District 3) and Gary House (District 4).

In addition to those individuals, the new council also includes Mayor Charles Starnes, Susan Blackerby, Evan Weiss and Lorie Rodriguez (who joined the council in January).

The council’s first business item was to appoint a new Mayor Pro Tem. The council voted unanimously for Blackerby to keep that position for another year before they adjourned.

Ellysa Harris is the editor for the Plainview Herald.