Rich Dupree sworn in as new Pineville mayor; council passes 2022-23 budget

Clarence Fields' last act as mayor was presiding over a special Pineville City Council meeting to approve the 2022-23 budget, and people took the opportunity to thank him for his decades of service before his longtime chief of staff, Rich Dupree, was sworn in as the new mayor.

"When I hit the gavel in a few moments, that will be it for me," said Fields, thanking everyone present and congratulating Dupree and the five returning council members.

Before he could bang that gavel, people stood up to express their appreciation.

City Engineer Tom David remembered when he and Fields were water meter readers for the city together 45 years ago and all that they had seen in the years since.

He recalled a piece of advice he gave Fields about staying humble and not taking his title too seriously, something he said he learned from watching late Alexandria Mayor Ned Randolph.

David said Fields is the most modest person he knows in such a position.

"He shows up every day to serve the people, every day. He's honest as the day is long, never asks for anything, except for his city," he said.

He said Fields is a problem solver and is excellent at collaboration.

"I love you like a brother. Thank you," said David.

Dupree told Fields they had been through so much, enjoying the highs and commiserating during the lows. Through it all, they worked together, he said.

"To say I love you would not be anything new to you to hear me say. You know that," he said. "I hope that, as history is written when both of us are gone, folks will recognize the leader that you have been for this community at a time when we needed that."

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Dupree said he would be a better mayor because of Fields' example.

Ninth Judicial District Court Judge John Davidson individually swore in council members Mary Galloway, District 1; Kevin Dorn, District 2; Christy Frederic, District 3; Tom Bouchie, District 4; and Nathan Martin, District 5.

Next it was Dupree's turn. With his wife Suzie Dupree beside him, he spoke about the Bible he'd soon place his hand upon while taking the oath of office.

It was the Bible that belonged to his pastor, Jim Spencer, brought to the ceremony by his son, Tom Spencer. The Spencer family offered the Bible to him after his election in March, he said.

"Brother Jim played a big part in the heavy decision I had to make 22 years ago, one of the best decisions I ever made in my life, to join Clarence in this role of serving our community," he said.

"Because of that, I'll have a chance today to cement that belief that Brother Jim had in me, and that I have in him and our heavenly father."

It wasn't the public inauguration that had been planned at the First Baptist Church across Main Street from the Pineville Municipal Building, though.

Two days ago, Dupree announced that an "uptick" in COVID-19 cases among city employees meant the public event would be postponed.