Council members Cleve Dunn Jr., center, speaks to Aaron Moak, right, sat next to Laurie Adams during the Baton Rouge Metro Council meeting at city hall on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
Council members Cleve Dunn Jr., center, speaks to Aaron Moak, right, sat next to Laurie Adams during the Baton Rouge Metro Council meeting at city hall on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
The twelve members of the East Baton Rouge Metro Council — including two new members elected last month — were sworn in for new four-year terms Thursday morning.
Then, moments after District 1 council member Brandon Noel, a Republican, took his oath of office for the second time, the council elected him Mayor-Pro-Tempore.
“I assume my four-and-a-half-month audition went well, so I appreciate y’all’s trust in letting me continue in this role,” Noel said to his colleagues.
The “pro tem” presides over council meetings, decides agendas, signs agreements on behalf of the council and has other responsibilities as the council’s leader.
Noel served as pro tem for the last few months of 2024, taking over after former District 7 Metro Council member Lamont Cole, a Democrat, took the job of school system superintendent in August.
District 6 Democrat Cleve Dunn Jr. nominated Noel to re-take the position. His appointment to the role had unanimous council support Thursday
“I’m pretty fair and even-handed. I’ll continue to be that way with all of you,” Noel said. “I want to make sure I give each of you the opportunity to represent your constituents to the best of your ability. That’s that’s what I see in this role, is to serve you all.”
Before electing Noel as president of Metro Council, joined by friends and family, each of the body’s members were inaugurated.
District 2 newcomer Democrat Anthony Kenney was sworn in by his former boss, Ted James. Kenney served as a legislative aide for James during James’ stint as a state rep. At 27, the Scotlandville graduate is the youngest member of Metro Council.
Democrat Twahna P. Harris also took the oath for the first time Thursday after winning her race in District 7 in November. Harris served as Cole’s legislative aide before his departure from the council.
Ten members were sworn in after winning reelection in the 2024 cycle.
Mirroring the makeup of the previous Metro Council, the new group is made up of seven Republicans and five Democrats.
A capacity crowd was in attendance for the ceremony, including newly elected Mayor-President Sid Edwards, alongside a handful of staffers.
“It’s an honor to be here and this day is about our council,” Edwards said at the start of the ceremony. “I’m really looking forward to working with each and every one of them.”
Edwards’ own inauguration is set to take place Thursday evening.
A brief moment of silence was held at the beginning of the ceremony for Wednesday’s terrorist attack in New Orleans which killed at least 15 and injured dozens more.
The Metro Council will hold its first meeting at 4.pm. on Jan. 8 at city hall.
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