Salem has a new city council. Mayor Julie Hoy and three new city councilors were sworn in Monday evening to kick off the first council meeting of 2025. Hoy had represented Ward 6, east Salem, on the council and will now be presiding over meetings as mayor. Joining her were Paul Tigan, Ward 1, who works for a strategic communications firm; Shane Matthews, Ward 3, a real estate broker, and Irvin Brown, Ward 5, a state policy adviser. Councilor Vanessa Nordyke, Ward 7, who won reelection unopposed, was sworn in to her second term. The new councilors join Linda Nishioka, Ward 2; Deanna Gwyn, Ward 4; and Micki Varney, Ward 8. They face a number of immediate challenges, including an expected $14 million city budget deficit this year. A special election will be held in May for a Ward 6 councilor to fill Hoy’s seat. Salem council chambers were tightly packed with people eagerly waiting for the swearing in ceremony to begin on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Julie Hoy reads a note from a supporter at city council chambers on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) The crowd watches as Julie Hoy is sworn in as Salem mayor in the Salem City Council chambers on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Retired Justice Paul DeMuniz swears in Mayor Julie Hoy on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Retired Justice Paul DeMuniz gives Salem City Mayor Julie Hoy a hug after swearing her in as mayor on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Danielle Bethell, Marion County Commissioner, shows support for the new Salem City Council during a swearing in ceremony at council chambers on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Dan Atchison, Salem city attorney, administers the oath of office to Paul Tigan, Ward 1 city councilor, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Paul Tigan, Ward 1 city councilor, walks back to his desk after being sworn in on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Dan Atchison, Salem city attorney, administers the oath of office to Shane Matthews, Ward 3 city councilor, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Dan Atchison, Salem city attorney, administers the oath of office to Vanessa Nordyke, Ward 7 city councilor, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Justice Adrienne Nelson administers the oath of office to Irvin Brown, Ward 5 city councilor, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) The crowd reacts as Irvin Brown is sworn in as the Ward 5 city councilor on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Paul Tigan accepts congratulations from a supporter after being sworn in as Ward 1 city councilor on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Councilor Irvin Brown points out family members to Justice Adrienne Nelson in the crowd in council chambers before the swearing in ceremony on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Justice Adrienne Nelson and Irvin Brown, Ward 5 city councilor, sign the oath of office on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Salem Mayor Julie Hoy gives a supporter a hug after being sworn in as mayor on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Salem Mayor Julie Hoy accepts congratulations from Rep. Kevin Mannix after being sworn in as mayor on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Irvin Brown, Ward 5 city councilor, celebrates with family members and friends after the swearing in ceremony on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) Vanessa Nordyke, Ward 7 city councilor, shares a moment with supporters after being sworn in on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 (Laura Tesler/ Special to Salem Reporter) STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected]. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post PHOTOS: Mayor Julie Hoy, new councilors sworn in appeared first on Salem Reporter.