Yolanda Evette Lawson sworn in as Pleasant Grove mayor; councilors take oaths

Yolanda Evette Lawson was sworn in as mayor of Pleasant Grove during an inaugural ceremony that included prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance and the swearing-in of multiple newly elected council members.

Lawson took the oath administered by her husband, Theo Lawson II, and received sustained applause from attendees. In her remarks, Lawson thanked family, faith leaders and campaign supporters and framed her service as faith-driven. "As I took this oath tonight, I did with a full heart and a firm commitment to serve you with honesty, compassion, and conviction," Mayor Lawson said.

Council members sworn in at the ceremony included Regina Van Williams (sworn in by Reverend Thomas J. Rogers), Ray Lester (sworn in by his brother, transcribed as Ministry John Ler), Gino Brown (sworn in by Philip Houston) and James Stevens Wilkerson (sworn in by pastor Angela Hines Sr.). The transcript also records a swearing-in for a councilor whose name is transcribed as "Jquis Garrett," sworn in by Judge Tiffany Ag; the spelling of that name in the transcript is unclear.

Speakers at the ceremony recognized local and state officials in attendance and thanked volunteers, educators and public-safety staff. Several council members urged community engagement; one speaker called for neighborhood teams to adopt highways and help clean the city.

The ceremony transitioned to the council's agenda after the oaths. The council paused or removed several appointment items from the evening's agenda and took up routine procedural business before adjourning amid music and applause.

The council did not announce specific policy actions at the event beyond the oaths and the ceremonial remarks. The most recent formal council action recorded in the transcript is the adjustment of the agenda and the appointment of a city chief (see separate coverage of council actions).