Two new members of the Merced City Council were sworn in Monday night, along with two returning incumbent leaders.
Darin DuPont, who works as a local civil attorney, was sworn in to represent District 1, taking over for Jesse Ornelas.
District 1 runs east of Highway 99 to Yosemite Parkway and Highway 140, and includes a pocket of downtown and an area south of Childs Avenue.
DuPont, who at age 28 is the youngest member of the City Council, thanked his wife for her support, particularly as they are parents to a newborn baby. He also thanked those who assisted him with his campaign and voters.
“I’m ready to advocate, ready to work, and ready to get to work so that we can make District 1 and the city of Merced better during these four years,” DuPont said.
Mike Harris, a retired sheriff’s sergeant and former planning commissioner, took the oath of office to represent District 3, taking over for Mayor Pro Tem Bertha Perez.
“I am humbled and profoundly grateful for the trust that’s been placed in me,” Harris, 70, told the audience Monday.
“This position is not about personal gain or power, it’s about service – service to the people, service to our values and service to the future of our community.”
Both Ornelas and Perez did not seek reelection in November.
The District 3 area roughly includes the downtown region and the area around it, bordered by the Bear Creek area on its northern edge to area of Highway 99 on the southern edge, between McKee Road and V Street.
District 5 Councilmember Sarah Boyle, who was reelected in November, was selected Monday as the city’s new mayor pro tem.
“Reflecting on the last four years, I am filled with gratitude for what we’ve accomplished, but there is more work to be done,” Boyle said.
“Together with our new council, we will focus on not just revitalizing not just District 5 but Merced, creating opportunities for growth, fostering a sense of pride in every neighborhood,” she added.
District 5 in Merced is south of Yosemite Avenue, bordered by G Street to the east and Bear Creek to the south. It also dips into areas near Santa Fe Drive and Ashby Road as well as near McSwain Road.
Mayor Matthew Serratto also was sworn Monday in to serve another four-year term in office.