Ferriday — For the fourth time in 20 years, Glen McGlothin raised his right hand and swore to uphold the constitution and laws of both the United States and Louisiana as the mayor of Ferriday Tuesday

New aldermen Elijah “Steppers” Banks and Somer Lance also took the oath of office, and Gloria Lloyd, Johnny Brown and Jerome Harris renewed their oaths, which were administered at Ferriday Town Hall by Concordia Parish Clerk of Court Clyde Ray Webber.

After all of the officials took their oaths of office, they had their first official meeting to confirm a few appointments: Anna Ferguson to town attorney, Gayle Cowan as city clerk, Joe Sontoyo as fire chief, Herman Smith as assistant fire chief and Kenneth Hedrick as police chief.

The remaining department heads would stay the same as under former mayor Gene Allen’s administration, McGlothin said.

The new mayor said he looks forward to working with the aldermen.

“We may have some differences of opinion, but I believe everyone sitting at this table has the best interests of Ferriday at heart,” McGlothin said. “I have known Somer since she was born, and I have known Steppers long enough to know he will do a good job.”

Any differences of opinion the board may have had are now a thing of the past, set aside for the common good, Brown said.

“We have no differences, no preconceived notions,” Brown said. “We just come here to do the best for the citizens of Ferriday.”

The future of Ferriday depends on more than just the newly minted politicians, McGlothin said.

“Ferriday is not dead,” he said. “I refuse to believe everything people say about Ferriday, but everyone has to work to bring Ferriday forward.”

McGlothin was the mayor of Ferriday from 1988 until 1996, and from 2000 to 2004. Since 2004, he has worked as the director of marketing for the City of Vidalia.

“I have learned a lot from (Vidalia Mayor) Hyram Copeland, but I love Ferriday, and that’s why I ran again,” McGlothin said.

The new board of aldermen will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss Ferriday’s water and what needs to be done to improve its quality.