PEABODY – Old and new faces filled the seats of Peabody’s Wiggin Auditorium Monday night as City Clerk Tim Spanos swore in this term’s 20 elected officials.The inaugural ceremony kicked off promptly at 7 p.m. as the Councilors, School Committee members, Light Commissioners and Library Trustees entered and took their designated places with white carnations pinned to their chests. The hundreds in the audience welcomed them by standing to their feet.First up to the front was Mayor Michael Bonfanti, who took the oath for his fourth time. The 10 City Councilors were next. They stood from their red chairs and were sworn in together. The three School Committee members came to the center to make their position official and were followed by the Municipal Light Commissioners and the Trustees of the Peabody Institute Library.”It feels great,” said newly elected Councilor-at-Large David Gravel. “It seemed like a long-time coming. It’s everything I imagined it would be.”The new Ward 6 Councilor Barry Sinewitz said he was excited and looking forward to working with the Mayor and the rest of the City Council.”It was a long, hard campaign,” he said. “This was the easy part.”As for Anne Manning, she can’t wait to get started. When asked how it feels to be the only woman, she was shocked.”Wow, I hadn’t even noticed,” she said.The two new School Committee members, Brandi Carpenter and Ed Charest, were thrilled to get to work.”It’s been sort of like ‘hurry up and wait,'” said Charest about the months since the election results. “All I want to do is move forward and do what’s best for the kids.”Carpenter was given a red notebook and matching pen from her young children as a gift for her new role.”I thought the ceremony was wonderful,” said Carpenter, who looks forward to her first meeting Tuesday night.Councilor-at-Large James Liacos nominated Ward 2 Councilor Arthur Athas for President of the City Council, stating that Athas has always been a strong advocate for solving school issues, as well as a prepared and outspoken Councilor.The newly elected President gave Rico Mello, former Council President, a gift before reciting a short, but sweet speech.”It’s a great honor to be President,” said a blushing Athas, who thanked his wife, daughters, voters, and councilors for their support throughout the years.”We’re all shareholders in this corporation called Peabody,” he said. “Our task is to make Peabody strong.”He encouraged the community to take part in the efforts of city officials, using the famous saying, “many hands make light work.” Once he took his new seat up front between the City Clerk and the Mayor, he made his first motion as President, a motion to adjourn.But, no such luck, as the drawing of seats took place next. There was some confusion and requests for eyeglasses as two Councilors mixed up their seat numbers. The mistake made by Liacos and David Gamache provided a solid minute or two of comical entertainment.The organization of the School Committee took place next and returning member Dave McGeney was elected Dean, Ed Nizwantowski was elected Vice-Chair, and Beverly Ann Griffin Dunne was given the honor of Secretary.Mayor Michael Bonfanti took to the podium soon after to give his inaugural address. Over the course of 36 minutes, he acknowledged his wife Dottie for always standing by his side and being his “better half,” thanked the Councilors for their hard work to keep Peabody a safe and affordable place to live, and encouraged the community to be involved in his work to make the downtown a more attractive and livable part of the city. He also discussed areas that need much more improvement, such as completing the rezoning process, gaining more in state aid, and solving the city’s long-time flooding issues once and for all.”The job of the Mayor isn’t an easy one,” he said, later adding that he “can not do it alone.”He closed with the promise he made to Peabody for the first time six years ago, “I promise to build a better and stronger