VALDOSTA, Ga. – The City of Valdosta will swear in the Mayor and four City Councilmembers during the first City Council meeting of the New Year, on Thursday, Jan. 9, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Honorable James G. Tunison, Jr., Superior Court Judge of the Southern Judicial Circuit, will preside over the swearing in ceremony.

Those taking office include Mayor-Elect Scott James Matheson, who begins his first term as the City of Valdosta Mayor; City Councilman Ben Norton, re-elected to serve At-Large; City Councilman Vivian Miller-Cody, District 1; City Councilman Joseph “Sonny” Vickers, District 3; and City Councilman Tim Carroll, District 5; who will each retain their seats representing their respective districts.

Following the induction ceremony, the Mayor and Council by majority vote will elect a member of the City Council to serve as Mayor Pro Tem, who serves in the Mayor’s absence.  The elected Mayor Pro Tem will also be sworn in at the Jan. 9 City Council meeting.

The swearing in ceremony will take place in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, located at 216 E. Central Avenue.  A special reception for the newly elected mayor and council members will take place in the Valdosta City Hall Annex Multi-Purpose Room, immediately following the City Council meeting.