Justin Nickels takes the oath of office. Swearing him in is City Clerk Mackenzie Reed. Standing behind him is his wife Shauna and his son Ben.
The newest Manitowoc Common Council has been sworn in.
During an inauguration ceremony yesterday, Justin Nickels was sworn in for his fifth term as mayor of the Clipper City.
Nickels talked about the accomplishments the city has seen in his 16 years in office, and how there is still more to be done.
He says he’s excited to work with the new council.
Nickels explained, “Should be a good council and I’m looking forward to a positive 2025.”
Aldermen from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 10th aldermanic districts also took their oath of office.
Chad Beeman, Mike Cummings, and Todd Reckelburg are all incumbents, but there were two new members that took the oath, including new 1st District Alderman Andrew Dunbar.
He spoke with Seehafernews.com, saying that he wants to support his constituents but also wants to do the job for his family.
“I have an eight and a ten-year-old son,” he described. “And at the end of the day, I just want this city to be better for them than it was for me, and I think we have a fantastic city. So, it’s big shoes to fill to make it better. But at the end of the day, that’s what I care about.”
7th District Alderman Brian Anderson is also new to the council.
He says he wants to learn and watch before taking any major action
“The first couple of meetings, I just want to watch and listen to see how things go and get more involved, definitely, and help improve the city,” Anderson said.
The Manitowoc Common Council will also have a new council president.
3rd District Alderman Mike Cummings will take over the role that was occupied by 8th District Alderman Bill Schlei.
Cummings says he wants to help the new council get acclimated, but he also wants to make sure that all opinions about issues are welcomed by the council.
“I like diversity of thought,” he stated. “So, I don’t expect us all to go and agree on everything. But I’m real big on doing the right thing all the time. So, even if you don’t agree, we still have to have respectful decorum in and amongst each other the entire time.”
The next regular Common Council meeting with the new council will take place on May 19th
