Three Riviera Beach council members sworn in as administration urges focus on water and collaboration

Shirley Lanier, Bruce Guyton and Priscilla Davis Pannier were sworn in as members of the Riviera Beach City Council during a March 19 meeting, formalizing the council that will take up priorities identified by city staff including water infrastructure and community engagement.

The three new and returning council members took the oath of office in sequence during the meeting. State Attorney Alexia Cox administered the oath to councilperson Shirley Lanier; Pastor Maurice Johnson of Roanoke Baptist Church administered the oath to Councilperson Bruce Guyton; and former Riviera Beach City Clerk Gwendolyn Davis administered the oath to Councilperson Priscilla Davis Pannier. Each received reference materials from the city clerk’s office, including the 2025 Government in the Sunshine manual, the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order and a book titled Mastering Council Meetings.

Why it matters: the newly seated council will oversee budget decisions and policy work for the coming year, including efforts the administration described as focused on infrastructure and transparency.

City Manager Jonathan Evans welcomed the new members and thanked outgoing officials, telling the council the administration is committed to working with the board “to move this agency forward for the best Riviera Beach that we all want to see for future generations and also our residents that live here.” City Attorney Don Wynn echoed the sentiment and said he looked forward to working with the council.

Council members who spoke during the swearing-in emphasized cooperation. Councilperson Bruce Guyton, returning to the dais, said he came “with a lot of passion and love for my community” and urged colleagues to put campaign divisions aside and focus on issues such as water, redevelopment, employee morale and recreation.

The clerk’s office asked the new council members to sign their oaths and accepted the ceremonial materials given to each member after the administration of each oath.

Councilmember Priscilla Davis Pannier, in her remarks after being sworn in, said she planned to prioritize education, community engagement and communication; she said she wants more town halls and better outreach so residents know what the city is doing.

The council adjourned the swearing-in portion of the meeting after the three oaths and proceeded to the remainder of the agenda.

Ending: The new council begins work with the administration pressing for accountability and infrastructure work; staff said it will continue to brief the board on water-related work and other priorities in coming meetings.