About 40 people watched in the council meeting room of the Municipal Building as retired Magistrate Judge Bill Thatcher administered the oath of office.

These officials were sworn in:

• Mayor Matt Bemrich, reelected to a fourth four-year term

• Councilwoman Lydia Schuur, reelected to a second term as an at-large member of council

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Retired Magistrate Judge Bill Thatcher, left, leads Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich, right, in reciting the oath of office Monday morning at the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S. Councilmen Cameron Nelson, Kim Alstott and Dave Flattery watch.

• Councilman Quennel McCaleb, newly elected as an at-large member of council

• Councilman Cameron Nelson, newly elected to represent Ward 2

• Councilman Dave Flattery, reelected to a sixth term representing Ward 3

• Councilman Kim Alstott, reelected to a sixth term representing Ward 4

Councilman Terry Moehnke was reelected to a fifth term representing Ward 1, but he was not present at the ceremony.

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea
The color guard from the 133rd Test Squadron, the Iowa Air National Guard unit based in Fort Dodge, brings the American and Iowa flags into the Fort Dodge City Council meeting room Monday at the beginning of the inauguration ceremony.

At-large members of council serve four year terms, while those elected to represent the wards serve two-year terms.

”Leadership counts, and you have set a positive tone and direction for all of us,” Thatcher said to the elected officials after administering the oath.

The ceremony began when the color guard of the 133rd Test Squadron, the Iowa Air National Guard unit based in Fort Dodge, brought the American and Iowa flags into the room.

Vickie Reeck, the city’s economic and community development manager, sang the national anthem.

The Rev. Sara Hill, of First Presbyterian Church, gave the invocation.

Following the ceremony, the council held a quick meeting in which Flattery was reelected mayor pro tem. He will preside over council meetings and perform other duties of the mayor when Bemrich is unavailable.

Alstott was elected dean of the council. He will preside over meetings if both Bemrich and Flattery are unavailable.