|Photo By Emma Delk| New Moundsville council members and returning council members who were reelected in November were sworn into office on Tuesday. Front row from left, Ward 1 Councilman Denny Hall, Mayor David Wood and Vice Mayor Sara Wood-Shaw. Back row form left, Ward 3 Councilman Eugene Saunders, At-Large Councilman Don DeWitt, At-Large Councilman Randy Chamberlain and City Manager Rick Healy.

Two new faces were sworn into Moundsville City Council on Tuesday along with the city’s new mayor and vice mayor and returning council members who won reelection in November.

City Clerk Sondra Hewitt swore in council members at a ceremony held at the City of Moundsville building before Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Denny Hall was sworn in as the new Ward 1 councilman, replacing Judy Hunt, and Don DeWitt was sworn in as the new at-large councilman, replacing Brianna Hickman.

Former Vice Mayor David Wood was sworn in as Mayor, and former Mayor Sara Wood-Shaw was sworn in as Vice Mayor. Other council members who won reelection, At-Large Councilman Randy Chamberlain and Ward 3 Councilman Eugene Saunders, also took their oaths of office.

Though Hall and DeWitt have never served on the council before, both noted that their past work and service experience with the city gave them the confidence to take up the new positions.

Hall, a retired Consol Energy employee, is the former president of the Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department and has served on the Moundsville Sanitary & Stormwater Utility Board and the Moundsville Board of Zoning Appeals.

“I’ve been attending council meetings for probably the last eight or nine years, which has taught me a lot about the needs of our general public and made me observe and thoroughly research questions that are brought up during meetings,” Hall said. “I would like to bring the city government more to the public and give the public more input as far as the election of the mayor and possible term limits, things of that nature.”

Hall said being added to the council was “exciting,” noting he knew the words to the oath by heart as he has been sworn in so many times for the city.

“It’s a little too early to say my goals as I’m getting started, but I’m very excited,” Hall said.

DeWitt, a court security officer at the Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Wheeling, has served as the Moundsville Police Department detective sergeant and the McMechen Police Department chief.

DeWitt will serve on the council alongside his wife, Ward 4 Councilwoman Ginger DeWitt. DeWitt said they occasionally have “differences of opinion” but are able to deal with them in a “very civil manner.”

“She’s entitled to her opinion, and I’m entitled to mine,” DeWitt said. “Sometimes they’re the same, sometimes different, but it doesn’t affect our relationship whatsoever.”

A priority for DeWitt on the council is supporting the city’s businesses while influencing new businesses to come to the area. He noted the city was heading “in a good direction” and wanted to keep the momentum going.

DeWitt added that though he has been in public-facing positions before, he was excited to be in a public position that directly represents the citizens.

“I’m excited to learn the ropes,” DeWitt said. “I want to do what I can to help the citizens and reflect what they want, not what I want.”