NATCHEZ — A standing-room-only crowd packed into the Natchez City Council Chambers Monday morning to see the official beginning of a new administration with a few familiar faces.

Mayor Larry L. “Butch” Brown, the Natchez Board of Aldermen, City Clerk Donnie Holloway and Municipal Judge Jim Blough lined up next to each other to take their oaths of office in unison.

For more images from Monday’s ceremonies, click here.

To watch a video of the complete ceremony, click here.

The officials were sworn in by Adams County Circuit Court Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders and Adams County Chancery Court Judge George Ward.

The deputy city clerks and court clerks were also sworn in after the elected officials.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, Ward 2 Alderman James “Rickey” Gray, Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Carter Smith, Ward 4 Alderman Ernest “Tony” Fields, Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery and Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard thanked their families, friends and voters for continued support and confidence.

The ceremony was not all sentiments and speeches, though. Brown called a meeting to order with a slam of the gavel on the board table.

“I’ve wanted to do that a long time,” Brown said.

The board elected Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis as mayor pro tem.

Hyde Carby took his seat next to Brown at the board’s table as the new city attorney after a unanimous vote for his appointment.

The board also unanimously voted to reappoint The Gillon Group as the city’s independent auditing firm.

The board will ratify the actions taken Monday at its first regular meeting on July 10.

Brown said the goals he has made for the city will be met, but he said meeting those goals might take some pushing and shoving.

“It is going to take some of that to get it done,” Brown said.

Brown said he did not want people to confuse his pushing and shoving for the city with him being overpowering or overbearing.

Brown thanked the aldermen for their dedication and unity and harmony and said he was excited for the future of Natchez.

“We have a good working board that is passionate about…making our city more beautiful, livable and prosperous,” Brown said.