PHOTOS: Inauguration Ushers in New Rockville City Council

The 63rd edition of Rockville's mayor and council took office on Monday with an inauguration ceremony at .

Loretta E. Knight, clerk of the Montgomery County Circuit Court, administered the oath of office to Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio. Marcuccio, who , begins her second term as mayor. She previously served two terms on the council.

"I stand here today humbled by the fact that you had faith in me to put me back in this job," Marcuccio said in remarks to the assembled Rockville residents. "I've said it so many times, 'What's a 78-year-old lady like me doing in this job anyway?' And I can only say I thank you for your faith in me, for your willingness to give me another opportunity to keep your city whole."

Big challenges lay ahead, Maruccio said. The new council must hire and .

"We are really looking at a real revolution to what goes on in City Hall," Marcuccio said in brief remarks peppered with humor. "And I want to assure you that things are in great hands. This is a fabulous group of people. We've got two lawyers again. But we have got potential here for the finest council to ever have in Rockville. And I'm so proud to be part of it."

Marcuccio administered the oath of office to council members Bridget Donnell Newton, Mark Pierzchala, John F. Hall Jr. and Tom Moore.

Newton and Pierzchala both were . Hall served two terms on the City Council before not running for re-election in 2005. Moore, who served as chairman of the city’s Compensation Commission, was elected to his first term this year.

The ceremony included a welcome from Rockville historian Eileen McGuckian, an invocation by the Rev. Jane Wood of , the presentation of colors by the Rockville City Police Color Guard and the national anthem by Karen Rawlins, the citys' community recreation programs supervisor.

Other musical selections were "God Bless America," performed by the children's choir of 's Latino Outreach Program and performances by two students from Sea Sharp Music Studio. Six-year-old Evan Xue performed "America the Beautiful" and 8-year-old Victoria Chai performed "The Enchanting Laurel Falls."

Marcuccio said that she wanted the program to reflect the city's diversity.

"You saw, we have members of the Asian community, members from the Latino community, members from the African-American community, bringing together a city of international flavor that is absolutely fantastic," she said.