New Ward Six Alderman David Phillips said his first officialduty after his Monday morning swearing-in ceremony would be to meetwith the mayor for a briefing on city issues.

“He’s going to bring me up to speed on the issues the city isfacing,” Phillips said. “I’m really looking forward to the newposition.”

Phillips was sworn in during a small ceremony with family andfriends in the chancery courtroom at the government complex Mondaymorning. His father, Tom Phillips, held the Bible as he took hisoath.

“As I was walking this morning, I wondered, ‘Why in the worldwould David want to do this?'” 15th District Chancery Court JudgeEd Patten said. “But it dawned on me, there’s a common threadunique to Brookhaven, and it’s a deep pool of talent. All thesepeople with such diverse talents share such a love ofBrookhaven.”

Patten said Phillips was a good example of the community spiritshared by the people of Brookhaven, and that he would help make thecity one that would grow and prosper.

“These talented people want to make Brookhaven a place wherefamilies can live, and children want to come back and make theirhomes here. They want people to have a good life,” Patten said.”There’s only one way for a city to go from there, and that’sup.”

Phillips said he takes his new duties very seriously, not justfrom a job standpoint, but from the view that it’s a duty aswell.

“As a person of faith, I realize the significance my oathholds,” he said. “As I begin my duties to represent the people ofWard Six, I realize this oath obligates me before God to do theirbusiness in a trustworthy manner.”

Phillips was elected last week to fill the remainder of formerAlderman John E. “Buddy” Allen’s term through next June. Phillipswill attend his first meeting as an alderman on June 17.