WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg City Council formally welcomed its newest addition last week, swearing in Stacy Kern-Scheerer in front of her family, friends and a crowd of residents.
Kern-Scheerer, a William & Mary law professor, was sworn in Friday morning by Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court Judge Holly B. Smith alongside Mayor Doug Pons, who was elected for his fourth term. During the November election, Kern-Scheerer was first among four candidates for two available council seats while Pons finished second.
The ceremony took place in the Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse, lending an ever greater sense of awe to the occasion, Kern-Scheerer said.
“It was so unique. I don’t know another word for it,” she said. “They really made it such that it felt really special and different, I’m sure, than a lot of swearing-in ceremonies in other places. I’m sure other courthouses are very lovely, but there’s nothing like this. And it felt that way.”
During the ceremony, Kern-Scheerer and Pons were presented with certificates of election before they each signed the Oath of Office. Afterward, both gave brief remarks, thanking everyone for being there and emphasizing their excitement about the future of the city.
Following the swearing-in, council members unanimously reelected Pons mayor and Pat Dent vice-mayor, marking Kern-Scheerer’s first business as a member of council. She made her first motion, nominating Pons for mayor, and then participated in her first vote, something that she said “felt really good.”
“I was thinking that this will never feel this way again. I won’t have this feeling again,” she said. “It was very special. It was really cool to be able to make that motion and take a first vote, especially in that setting with so many supportive community members and friends around.”
Now with the campaign, the election and the swearing-in behind her, Kern-Scheerer said that she’s eager to get to work.
“It definitely feels like, ‘OK, now let’s move on to what’s next and put the campaign and the transition time of the holidays behind us,’” she said. “It feels good to have the culmination of all those efforts happen at the ceremony and now moving forward.”
Sian Wilkerson, sian.wilkerson@pilotonline.com, 757-342-6616
