After a drawn-out election process, new Itta Bena Mayor J.D. Brasel is ready to go to work.
Brasel was sworn in Monday morning by Judge Richard Smith at City Hall. Also taking oaths were the five members of the Board of Aldermen: Mary Hines of Ward 1, Lousia Grantham of Ward 2, Walter Parker of Ward 3, Donald Fulgham of Ward 4 and at-large representative Allene Fitts.
Hines and Parker are new to the board.
Brasel, 45, a lifelong Itta Bena resident, said he didn't have any specific goals for his time in office other than to serve the citizens.
He defeated incumbent Thelma Collins in the June 5 election, 278-268. Collins then asked to review the ballot boxes, which she did June 18 and 19.
She announced last week that she had found errors in the results but would not contest them.
Brasel said he didn't blame Collins for wanting to double-check the results with such a narrow margin. Both ran a clean race, he said.
"She was working to stay in there just like I was working to get in there," he said.
Collins initially was reported as the winner in unofficial results, but it was discovered during recanvassing that some votes had been awarded to her that should have gone to Brasel.
Brasel said he will continue his work as a self-employed electrician while in office.
He served one term as an at-large representative on the Board of Aldermen in the 1980s before being defeated in his re-election bid.
