Highland swears in new mayor, council members and youth council

Britney P. Bills was sworn in as Highland’s mayor during a brief ceremony, and multiple newly elected council members and the city’s youth council also took the oath of office.

Judge Kelly Shafer Bullock administered the oaths and framed the event with an extended address about the history of the Constitution and the responsibilities of public service, urging new officeholders to learn and defend the nation’s and Utah’s constitutions. As the oath was administered, each new officeholder repeated the standard oath to ‘‘support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Utah’’ and chose to include the optional phrase ‘‘so help me God.’’

Mayor Bills thanked attendees after being sworn, telling the assembled youth and parents that she believes local government matters and that she looks forward to engaging with the youth council and hearing residents’ ideas about city business. The meeting included ceremonial moments: a presentation of a ‘‘key to the city’’ and a photo opportunity for the newly sworn youth council members, who will sign certificates verifying their service.

The oath for mayor was followed by the swearing-in of council members Ron Campbell, Elizabeth Ann Rice and Scott L. Smith (all sworn during the same meeting). Judge Bullock administered the youth council oath to the assembled youth members collectively and indicated the council would retain signed certificates.

No contested actions or policy votes were taken as part of the swearing-in itself; the session moved quickly from ceremony to a short set of consent items.

The council recessed to complete brief business and scheduled the next meeting’s General Plan discussion on the 20th, inviting public input prior to that session.