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James Island swears in two new council members after expansion vote

Town of James Island Council · January 13, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Town of James Island held a swearing-in ceremony for two newly elected council members — Julia Drayton Cromwell and Michael O'Shaughnessy Williams — following a voter-approved referendum that added two council seats. The ceremony included a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and a reception.

Julia Drayton Cromwell and Michael O'Shaughnessy Williams were formally sworn in at a public ceremony hosted by the Town of James Island. The Moderator administered the oath that included a pledge "to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution" and to serve "as a council member of the town of James Island." The event followed a referendum approved by voters a little over two years ago that added two seats to the council.

Both new council members spoke to supporters after their oaths. Cromwell said, "I am here for y'all," and pledged to make residents "feel proud and seen from every avenue." Williams told the audience he is "deeply appreciative" of his family's support and said he fell in love with James Island after moving there nine years ago. The Moderator invited residents to the council's first meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. and to a reception after the swearing-in.

The ceremony also included recognition of long-serving town staff and volunteers — remarks highlighting individuals with decades of service — and a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilwoman Dr. Cynthia Mignano, introduced as mayor pro tem. Photographs and brief paperwork-signing followed each oath.