LEWISTON — Saying the city’s transformation is underway but incomplete, Mayor Robert Macdonald on Tuesday asked residents to double down and work harder.

“If we commit to a shared vision, if we invest our time and energy, if we pledge to work toward making our vision a reality, we will continue to grow and prosper,” Macdoanld said during his inaugural address in the Lewiston Public Library. “We can and will ensure a bright future.”

Macdonald and Lewiston’s 14 other elected officials were sworn into office during an abbreviated ceremony in Callahan Hall.

Looking back on his first term as mayor, Macdonald said he promised to be a transitional mayor who helped turn the city around and get it ready for the future.

With a plan to redevelop the Riverfront Island, new businesses on Lisbon Street, changes to downtown housing stock and an improved local economy, Macdonald said the transformation is well underway.

“The transformation has begun, but enough is not yet enough,” he said. “All of us must take responsibility for embracing, nurturing and furthering this change. I pledge to do my best to work with each of you, with our friends and partners in Auburn and others throughout the region.”

Councilors sworn in Tuesday were Ward 1’s Leslie Dubois, Ward 2’s Don D’Auteauil, Ward 3’s Nate Libby, Ward 4’s Doreen Christ, Ward 5’s Kristen Cloutier, Ward 6’s Mark Cayer and Ward 7’s Michael Lachance.

School Committee members sworn in were Ward 1’s Linda Scott, Ward 2’s Paul St. Pierre, Ward 3’s Trinh Burpee, Ward 4’s Jim Handy, Ward 5’s Jama Mohamed, Ward 6’s Matthew Roy and Ward 7’s Tom Shannon.

With less room to work with, the ceremony did away with much of the normal pomp; flag presentations by Lewiston High School Air Force Junior ROTC and Lewiston’s Police and Fire Honor guards and performances by the Lewiston High School Chamber Choir and Jazz Band were canceled, as was a presentation scheduled by Republican Gov. Paul LePage.

The ceremony was over in fewer than 40 minutes.

LePage sent a letter via Peter Steele, director of communications for the governor, that congratulated Macdonald on his second term.

“You have shown courage by standing up against vocal opponents who insist on doing business as usual, regardless of the cost to the local taxpayer,” LePage wrote.

Macdonald defeated challenger and former Mayor Lawrence Gilbert by a vote of 4,123 to 2,610 in November.

City councilors voted to make Mark Cayer the council president. Cayer will serve as temporary mayor if Macdonald cannot attend a meeting, and also gains the ability to name people to city committees.

In his address, Cayer called for state and federal government to get out of the city’s way.

“For us to continue to persevere in the ideals of a business-friendly community, state and federal officials need to heed our call and to unburden us from unfunded state and federal mandates and regulations that impact our ability to effectively meet the needs of the 21st century,” Cayer said. “We have done our parts. Others must do their parts as well.”

School Committee members named Handy their chairman. Handy said he is an unabashed supporter of public education.

“If we chip away at support for (public education), we erode the community’s responsibility for a vital public institution,” Handy said. “We cannot turn public education — the great equalizer — over to privateers who pick and choose which students they wish to educate.”

The ceremony was followed by the City Council’s first regular meeting of the year at City Hall.

staylor@sunjournal.com