Mayor Freddie DeCourt and the New Iberia City Council were sworn in Tuesday afternoon at the steps of City Hall with more than 100 in attendance.

The swearing-in ceremony marked the city’s first new mayor in 12 years. DeCourt, a lifelong New Iberia resident and longtime businessman in the area, has been an active member of the community for years and also has served as mayor pro tem during Mayor Hilda Curry’s administration.

The new mayor and city council were sworn in by Judge Trey Haik after members of the Iberia Veterans Association began the ceremony by posting flags near the podium.

“Some communities are poor, all they have is money,” DeCourt said, addressing the audience. “I’ll tell you what, we in New Iberia, we’ve got great people, we’ve got a long, rich history (and) tremendous untapped potential.”

“The City of New Iberia may not have the bank account some of our neighboring communities have, but we are is truly rich. Myself as the mayor and we as a council and administration plan on moving this city forward.”

Also sworn in were Mayor Pro Tem Dan Doerle, District 1 Councilwoman Natalie Lopez, District 2 Councilman Marlon “Marlo” Lewis, District 3 Councilman David Broussard, District 4 Councilwoman Deidre Ledbetter, District 5 Councilwoman Sherry Guidry and District 6 Councilman Dustin Suire. After DeCourt’s speech, Guidry led a prayer to begin the new term.

Doerle and Lopez each won an election bid for another term during November’s election. Lewis, Ledbetter, Guidry and Suire are serving as council members for the first time. Broussard previously served in the District 3.

Among those in the audience were State Rep. and Speaker of the House Tayler Barras, State Rep. Terry Landry, State Sen. Fred Mills, Iberia Parish President Larry Richard and several members of the Iberia Parish Council. Former Councilmen David Merrill and Calvin Begnaud also were in attendance.

“I, along with the new council, thank the community for the opportunity to be part of that forward movement,” DeCourt said. “We look forward to working with all of you to make New Iberia the best it can be.”