Flanked by his family, Randy Fandal was sworn in as mayor of Slidell before a packed house Tuesday, becoming the city's 23rd mayor and the third former city police chief to make the jump to the executive office.

Fandal, 65, won a special race on Oct. 11 to fill the remaining eight months of the term of former Mayor Greg Cromer, who resigned the office last January to take a job in Gov. Jeff Landry's administration. Fandal promised to lead the city of some 28,000 people with integrity and energy.

"I stand before you with humility, gratitude and a deep commitment to serve each and every one of you," Fandal told the crowd at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, choking up several times during his speech.

Fandal, the city's police chief since 2016, follows former chiefs Freddy Drennan and Be

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