By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice

Democratic Mayor John M. Picard will serve as West Haven’s top elected official for another two years when he and the rest of the city’s elected officials are sworn into office at noon Sunday.

Picard’s wife, lawyer Tara J. Picard, will administer the oath of office to her 44-year-old husband for a third term in an inauguration ceremony at West Haven High School, 1 McDonough Plaza.

The public ceremony will take place in the auditorium, where Picard will formally begin his new two-year post at the city’s helm.

Thomas “Tinker” Blake will serve as master of ceremonies.

Probate Judge E. Michael Heffernan will swear in his wife of 43 years, incumbent Democratic Treasurer C. Jane E. Heffernan, along with incumbent Democratic City Clerk Deborah Collins and incumbent Democratic Tax Collector Francis P. Withington.

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal will swear in the City Council: nine incumbents and four newcomers.

Returning council members are Nicholas A. Pascale, D-1; Christopher M. Suggs, D-5; James P. O’Brien, D-6; Nancy R. Rossi, D-7; Tracy A. Morrissey, D-8; Sean P. Ronan, D-9; Gail S. Burns, D-10; Stephen W. DeCrescenzo, D-At Large; and Edward M. O’Brien, D-At Large.

New to the council are Sean B. McCauley, D-2; John W. Lewis Jr., D-3; Steven Wydra, D-4; and David C. Forsyth, ABF-At Large.

The council will elect a chairman and clerk on Monday.

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz will swear in members of the Board of Education, including incumbent Democrats Mark P. Palmieri, M. Toni Paine and Eric Murillo, as well as ABF newcomer Dorinda Borer.

State Comptroller Nancy Wyman will swear in incumbent Democrat Alys B. Fentress, Democrat Stephanie Marazzi and ABF newcomer Michael A. Travisano to the Board of Assessment Appeals.

The city charter mandates that all elected officials take the oath of office on the first Sunday in December.

Picard was elected to office after unseating seven-term Democratic Mayor H. Richard Borer Jr. in 2005. He is the 10th mayor of West Haven since the General Assembly incorporated it as a city in 1961.

The inauguration will begin with a procession of dignitaries led by the West Haven Police Color Guard, followed by a mayoral honor guard composed of chiefs and officers of the Police Department and three fire departments. Four veterans will serve as program ushers.

The ceremony will feature Picard’s inaugural address, along with the unveiling of his administration’s two-year theme.

It will include musical selections by the West Haven High School Band directed by Cassandra K. Marcella and the national anthem and “God Bless America” sung by Brianna Lessandrini, a 2009 graduate of West Haven High School who attends the Manhattan School of Music.