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COLUMBUS—The Town of Columbus swore elected officials into office on Monday night, which included a new mayor and new council member. 

Columbus Town Council met Monday and swore in newly elected mayor Pat McCool and newly elected councilman Brent Jackson as well as incumbent councilmen Richard Hall and Mark Phillips, who all won in the November election. 

Council also swore into office councilman Robert Williamson as mayor pro tem and said goodbye to former mayor Eric McIntyre, who chose not to run for re-election this year. 

McCool thank the citizens of Columbus for voting him as mayor and said he hopes he does the best job for the town. 

Council appointed Williamson as mayor pro tem since he was the high vote getter in the 2017 election. 

This year’s high vote getter was Jackson, who secured a four-year term. Jackson will be the town’s next mayor pro tem in two years. 

Council also on Monday voted to accept the canvass for the election, or approving that the votes were accurate. Columbus’ election was contentious this year as the third place was within three votes. After counting provisional and officially canvassing the votes, no winners changed. 

McIntyre served as Columbus’ mayor for 10 years. The town presented McIntyre with a plaque for his service and will place a picture of McIntyre on the council chambers’ wall along with other mayors from Columbus over the years. 

The town also recognized outgoing councilwoman Margaret Metcalf, who served on the board for the past 13 years and will present her plaque at a later date since she was not at the meeting. 

Council also on Monday approved the board’s schedule for 2020, with the board meeting at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.