Five new Knoxville City Council members were sworn into office Saturday afternoon at the Knoxville City-County Building on Main Street.
Districts One, Two, Three, Four and Six all have new representation on the council following the November general election.
Stephanie Welch was elected to represent District One. Andrew Roberto will now District Two. Seema Singh-Perez was elected to represent District Three. Lauren Rider represents District Four. Gwen McKenzie was elected to represent District Six.
During the election, five of the nine city council seats were up for grab which meant voters had a huge voice in shaping the city's future leadership. Four women were elected to city council and leaders say this is the most elected in Knoxville history.
"It's really exciting," Lauren Rider, Knoxville City Councilwoman for District Four, said. "I think in two years when there are more elections, we'll have the opportunity to have a majority women."
All four women said this was their first time running for public office.
"We're moving in the right direction with a council that is a diverse council with so many women," Gwen McKenzie, Knoxville City Councilwoman for District 6, said. "I think we're now going to see a balance, a better balance, as it relates to our local government now."
More than 11,000 votes were cast in this last election. Mayor Madeline Rogero said that it was one of the largest turnouts in recent years for a city election.