Mayor Laurence Leyens called his first four years in office an amazing experience Friday night and pledged to make his next term an exciting time for the City of Vicksburg.

“I’m going to commit even further for open government and to get people to come to board meetings and have neighborhood meetings and be a part of it,” Leyens said.

About 150 people attended the swearing-in ceremony Friday for Leyens, South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman and North Ward Alderman-elect Michael Mayfield. Their four-year terms begin Tuesday, and again the Rev. Casey Fisher spoke of the mayor being picked by the voters for the tough job of administering city government.

“Four years ago I told the mayor he had been picked out to be picked on, but this time I think he’s been picked out to pick us up,” Fisher said.

In 2001, about 1,000 people attended the ceremony for the swearing-in of city officers at the Vicksburg Convention Center. In previous years the ceremony had been on the steps of City Hall.

Although usually well attended, the ceremony is mainly traditional.

Beauman, who will also be serving his second term, talked briefly about the the past four years noting that on their first day in office that new board had to approve a $1 million budget amendment.

“We came in swinging and on the last day of this administration we went our swinging,” Beauman said.

On Friday, the board approved a variance request for Ameristar Casino to built what will be the city’s largest building on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Mayfield, who defeated incumbent Gertrude Young, asked the public to support the new administration.

“I ask all of you as we go through this journey that you stay in prayer with us and for us because we can be no better than the people backing us up,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield resigned his post as Warren County District 2 supervisor effective Thursday. It will be up to the Board of Supervisors to selected an interim replacement and a special election to fill the vacancy has been set for November.

Young, whose last meeting as an alderman was Friday morning, attended the meeting and was recognized by Leyens for her 12 years with the city. Warren County District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon, who ran for mayor against Leyens, was also present for the swearing-in ceremony.

“This is the first one of these I’ve attended, but hopefully it won’t be the last,” Selmon said.

Young has also suggested that she may seek city office again in 2009. She was the first woman elected to city office and has been the most experienced member of the previous administration.

The first meeting of the new Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall Annex. By law, one of the first actions of the administration will be to appoint the five city officers named in the city charter.

Those positions are police chief, fire chief, City Clerk, city attorney and municipal judge. Indications from Leyens and Beauman have been that the people currently holding those positions will be re-appointed.