LOUISVILLE, Ga. () – Louisville, Georgia, has welcomed a new leader as Michelle Reaves was officially sworn in as mayor during a ceremony on Tuesday.

The ceremony, held on January 13 at Louisville City Hall, marked a significant change in leadership after Reaves triumphed over the sitting mayor, Jenny Smith, in the November election.

With her historic victory, Reaves is now the first Black mayor to lead Louisville. She emphasized that her decision to run was driven by the community’s desire for transformation.

“My passion is serving people. With my background in DFACS and my current role in the prison system, I was inspired to run for mayor because citizens continually expressed their need for change,” Reaves stated. “Louisville is in need of significant transformation, and that resonated with me. Although people have encouraged me to run for years, I felt now was the right moment to step up.”

Prior to her mayoral win, Reaves dedicated six years to serving on the city council. Looking ahead, she plans to organize a town hall meeting to engage with residents and foster a unified community dialogue.

Photojournalist credit; Avery Van Dusen