Josh Miller is the new Smithville mayor, the former alderman taking the oath of office Friday on the eve of his official beginning of duty Sept. 1.

Administered the oath of office by City Attorney Vester Parsley inside the city board meeting room at Smithville City Hall Friday afternoon, Miller succeeded Jimmy Poss as head of the municipality. He defeated the incumbent by 104 votes during the city election earlier this month, an election that was marred for Poss by the indictment of him and his son, Tony on theft charges just days before the election. Poss and son have entered not guilty pleas to charges they bilked the city by Poss’ hiring of his son against city policy to help maintain the city’s golf course.

Taking the oath of office along with Miller before a room full of friends and family were Gayla Hendrix, who was reelected to the aldermanic council and newcomer Brandon Cox. Neither faced opposition.

One of the first matters they will have to decide when they meet Sept. 10 for Miller’s first session as mayor will be who will fill the new mayor’s aldermanic spot. Miller had to abandon his aldermanic seat when he became mayor.