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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- A new member officially took his seat on the Kirksville City Council Monday.

During a special meeting Monday afternoon, newly elected City Councilman Robert Russell of Kirksville was sworn in by the city clerk.

He beat out three other opponents in the April 3rd election.

Russell will serve a three-year term on the council.

He replaces Carolyn Chrisman, who resigned late last year to take a new job as K-REDI's director of job creation.

After Russell's swearing-in, the city council voted unanimously to re-elect Richard Detweiler as mayor for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

This is Detweiler's second consecutive year as mayor of Kirksville.

"Always the No. 1 goal is economic development, and any of the existing businesses, if there's anything we can do to help them increase their business to grow, that's our first goal,” said Detweiler. “The second goal would be to attract whatever new businesses we can and get them up and running."

Detweiler told KTVO he is honored to serve as mayor for a second year.

“I was truly appreciative of people trusting me and believing in me, and I can’t think of a better experience,” said Detweiler. “This is fun! I look upon this as being... an ambassador of Kirksville."

The city council unanimously elected Tony Fajkus as Kirksville mayor pro tem.