Newly elected Ward 4 Councilman Robert Socha was sworn into office during a special City Council meeting this week.
With Mayor Adam Stockford out for the night due to illness, Will Morrisey, as mayor pro-tempore, oversaw the meeting in his place.
The singular item of business for the night was the completion of four oaths of office for three re-elected city council members: Ward 1’s Tony Vear, Ward 2’s Cynthia Pratt, and Ward 3’s Bruce Sharp, along with the newly-elected Socha.
Socha defeated Penny Swan on Nov. 4 in a close race for the Ward 4 city council seat, receiving 388 votes to Swan’s 335. He replaces Matt Bell, who retired from office at the expiration of his term.
Socha, an Air Force veteran, served on the Tax Increment Financing Authority board for six years and has been president of the Rotary Club of Hillsdale for the past year.
Socha said he is excited to get started on the council.
“I feel very honored,” Socha said. “It feels important.”
Morrisey was the first to extend his thanks to Socha after the swearing-in.
“Thank you very much for serving,” he said. “We’ll keep you busy, I promise.”
After that, Morrisey moved to adjourn, and the meeting ended.
After the meeting, Ward 4 councilman Ray Briner said he believes Socha will be a great asset to the team.
“We are happy to have him aboard,” he said.
“I think he will be a good asset to the city. He’s been involved with TIFA for many years and knows how the city works.”