Central : FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Guy Carrozzo Is Sworn In as Mayor

Councilman Guy Carrozzo was elected to the ceremonial post of mayor last week, succeeding Councilman John Collins after his one-year stint as the city’s spokesman.

Carrozzo, 62, a retired school principal who was reelected to serve a second, four-year term on the council last month, said he welcomes the task of heading the five-member panel. Voters also reelected City Councilwoman Laurann Cook and Collins.

Councilman George B. Scott was elected mayor pro tem.

Carrozzo’s family, friends and supporters attended the swearing-in ceremony, where his son, Guy, and daughter, Kimberly Porrazzo, administered the oath of office.

Carrozzo said he looks forward to working with his colleagues for another four years. “I don’t want to brag,” he said, “but I think we are a great team.”

He told the standing-room-only crowd that “Your interests and well-being will always be at the heart of my decisions.”

Carrozzo said he will uphold his vow not to raise taxes, will continue to combat crime and will work toward improving traffic problems the city faces.

“If I can in my term, maintain, without raising taxes, city services, make sure the trash is picked up on time, keep the streets clean and keep the small-town atmosphere, then that is a good accomplishment,” he said. “We’re just going to do our best to keep Fountain Valley as nice as it’s been in the past.”

Collins, 51, in his outgoing address, said being mayor was exhausting at times. He averaged more than 40 public appearances or meetings each month, responsibilities that impinged on his family life and business.

“But the rewards were great, too,” he said. “The memory of receiving a standing ovation from over 400 mayors at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Portland, Ore., and accepting an award that only three other cities in the country received was incredible.”