SPENCER — Cheers erupted in Spencer Town Hall on Tuesday night as Sharon Hovis finished the last words of her oath and took her seat on the town Board of Aldermen.

Throughout the rest of the meeting, town employees and residents came up to congratulate her on her new position as mayor pro tem.

“What a historic night to be here,” Police Chief Mike James said.

Hovis is the first African-American to serve on the town board and the first to serve as mayor pro tem. The position is traditionally given to the board member who received the most votes in the election. On Nov. 7, Hovis, a newcomer to elected office, kept a wide lead over former Mayor Pro Tem Sylvia Chilcott.

On Tuesday night, Hovis saw her hard work come to fruition as she was sworn in. The vote to name her mayor pro tem was unanimous.

“I look forward to working with Ms. Hovis,” Mayor Jim Gobbel said.

Hovis, 49, is a native of Spencer and is chief of police in East Spencer.

Gobbel was re-elected mayor and also was sworn in.

Also sworn in for new terms on the board were Chilcott and fellow incumbents Aldermen Kevin Jones, Mike Boone, David Lamanno and David Smith.

“I can’t wait to get going with moving this town forward,” Hovis said.