DeRidder Mayor Misty Clanton took her oath of office for her second term Friday morning at a ceremony held at the DeRidder High School auditorium.

“Today marks a new chapter for our city,” Clanton declared in a social media post following the ceremony.

She was joined in the ceremony by the DeRidder City Council, which includes both new faces and familiar ones.

Having filled his seat for the past 28 years consecutively, Vincent Labue pledged to serve the city for another four years alongside newcomers councilman at-large Danny Reynolds, District 1 councilman Wayne J. Godfrey, Sr., and District 2 councilwoman Artemese Carhee Hickman.

Hickman was joined by friends and family in celebrating the ceremony, and she said she was filled with excitement about her future role.

“I am just so honored and excited to represent District 2. I know that I join a council with people that all have different beliefs and opinions, but I also know that we all want to work together to make a difference. I’m genuinely excited for this opportunity to do my part for our wonderful city,” Hickman said.

Councilman Keith Hooper took his oath for the third time since first being elected to represent District 5 in 2018, and he said this year’s oath meant just as much to him as any other time.

“This ceremony was special. My first two terms I ran unopposed, but this time I had two opponents and the citizens still voted me in. That support means so much to me and I am both grateful and honored to represent my district for four more years,” Hooper said.

The first council meeting for the new council will be Monday night, July 11 and the panel will decide its new president and vice president.