VALDOSTA – Valdosta city leaders, employees and residents welcomed returning Mayor Scott James Matheson, three council members and the newly appointed At-Large seat member Nick “Big Nick” Harden.

Valdosta residents and supporters packed the chambers Thursday evening as the council inducted Matheson and returning council members Vivian Miller-Cody of District 1, Thomas B. McIntyre, Sr. of District 3 and Tim Carroll of District 5.

City Manager Richard Hardy read the voting results from city elections as certified by the Lowndes County Board of Elections. After the council accepted the results, Judge Jeremy Baker led each member through their readings, swearing their oath to office.

Hardy announced Matheson received a total of 2,650 in the 2023 General Municipal Election mayoral race against J.D. Rice and Fallon Harris. Matheson was supported by his wife, Rebekah and their three children, Kiley, Maggie and Ashlyn.

The attending residents bore witness to the induction of the city’s newest councilman, Nick “Big Nick” Harden, for its At-Large, or District 7, seat. Shared documents showed Harden secured 2,384 votes against the opposing candidates including Bill Love, Alvin Payton, Jr., and Edgar “Nicky” Tooley in the December 2023 run-off election.

The chambers filled with applause as Harden completed the oath. He was joined by his wife, Ingrid, daughter Kendall, and his mother.

The council elected a new Mayor Pro Tem following Councilman Eric Howard’s succession.

Matheson heard a nomination from Carroll electing Councilman Andrew “Andy” Gibbs of District 6. The motion was seconded by Councilman Eric Howard of District 4. Gibbs took the oath with a unanimous vote from the remaining council members.

The council meeting continued under normal procedure.

The next Valdosta City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 25, at 5:30 p.m.

More to come

This is the first in a series planned through at least November. If you’d like to share your views in a future article, please call The Valdosta Daily Times at (229) 244-1880 or email kevin.hall@gaflnews.com with your contact information.