Photo by Alan Olson Moundsville officials gather Friday to be sworn in. Pictured, from front left, are Ginger DeWitt and Sara Wood. In the back row, from left, are Phil Remke, Rick Healy and David Wood.

Two new faces were seated at the table in Moundsville’s City Council chambers Friday morning as the city swore in new and returning council members, alongside the new city manager.

Sara Wood, elected to fill an at-large council seat, joined her father, David Wood, and fellow council members Ginger DeWitt and Phil Remke, who were all re-elected to their seats.

City Manager Rick Healy was also sworn in alongside the others.

Sara Wood said she is proud to join the council, especially when her membership will mark the first time in the community’s history that three women will represent the city.

She joins DeWitt and Councilwoman Judy Hunt on the panel.

“I think, for a very long time, the city of Moundsville had older men representing us,” Wood said. “For the first time to have three women, now, especially a young woman, to be on council, I’m really excited, and I think it’s a monumental time in the city that we do have this diversity.”

Serving alongside her father, Wood said she was excited to take the seat, as politics was something she had grown up following.

“I’m really excited to work with my dad on the council,” she said. “For more than 10 years, I’ve grown up with him being on council, hearing about council meetings, and having the chance to be on council and represent the citizens at large is something I’m really passionate about.”

DeWitt will have served on council for 10 years in 2019, having been appointed to fill an unexpired term in 2009.

David Wood will have served 13 years in 2019, and Remke will serve his sixth year.

Sara Wood is taking the spot formerly held by former mayor Allen Hendershot, who retired from public service but was present for the ceremony. Remke will take his place as mayor, with David Wood as vice mayor.

Healy is taking over for interim city manager and City Clerk Sondra Hewitt, who administered the oaths. Hewitt has been acting as interim city manager since the retirement of former city manager Deanna Hess.

“I look forward to getting started,” Healy said after the ceremony. “I kind of wish I could have gotten started this week, but we’ll start Jan. 2 and hit the ground running.

“Look for big things from Moundsville. We’re excited!”