Shawnee — The City of Shawnee swore in four new council members and elected a council president at its final meeting of 2025, Communications Director Doug Donahue said.

Steele Reynolds, Eric Person, Morgan Rainey and Aaron Aldridge each took the oath of office to begin four-year terms on the city council. Immediately after the ceremonial swearing-in, the council elected Council Member Laurel Burchfield as council president for the 2026 session; the announcement recorded the vote as 7 to 1.

The new composition of the council will take effect immediately, with members seated at the dais for the start of the 2026 council year. The meeting opened with students from Belmont Elementary School leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

The council is next scheduled to meet on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.