Swearing-In Ceremony: Candice Quarles DeSoto City Council
Channel: Candid with Candice
Date: 2018-05-26

Candice Quarles was sworn in to her first full term on the DeSoto City Council May 15th, 2018. 
Candice Quarles represents DeSoto City Council Place 6. 
Swearing In was conducted by Commissioner John Wiley Price.

I, Candice Quarles. Do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the duties of Councilmember Place 6 
In the city of the DeSoto, of the state of Texas. 
And will to the best of my ability,
 preserve, protect and defend the constitution and laws of the United States this day, on this day.
 So help me God.

Good evening. I am City Councilwoman place 6, Candice Quarles and I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve for my first full term on the city council. First, I want to thank the voters for entrusting in me the opportunity to serve this community in the role of a council member. I want to thank my loving husband Jeremiah, and my baby girl Avery. We spend a lot of time in this chamber, in this building and away from family and I understand the sacrifices that families make, that don't sign up for politics in general. They still get still get a taste of that. So thank you guys for always being so supportive and also want to thank my mom and my dad and my two sisters. Also I want to thank my sorority sisters.
And I also want to thank my colleagues on the city council. 

You have made this experience of the past few years a wonderful learning experience and just know that I cherish each of you and I really respect each and every single person on this council. 
We spend a lot of time together guys and just know that the professionalism that you see during the council meeting is always in every meeting. In every event that we're doing, we are looking out for each other and the way that they all care about the city. 
Just know that you guys (the citizens) have really chosen really good people to serve on the council. 
So I'm honored to serve with each of you and I sincerely mean that. 
Also want to thank my illustrious mayor to have the first female mayor want to make sure that you know that we are being supportive and understand that it's a big weight when women are in leadership, so a lot of sacrifices that are made. There's an extra magnifying glass and understand that she is just really carrying that torch well, a kept it going seamlessly and I'm so glad to serve under her leadership on the city council.
I am also thankful for every opportunity that I've been given on council as the liaison for the Historical Foundation as specifically working with people like Ms Charlotte Berry on the domestic violence advisory commission.
I am also thankful for opportunities like the DeSoto Works Job Fair. When you talk about  collaboration in the city, When Commissioner talks about how things work in cities-- That's because that's the partnership with Chambers, churches and economic development. That's the way it works. I'm so glad to be in a city where we can have collaboration and I also want to commit to you that you should hold us accountable. This government is supposed to work for you. It’s supposed to do things for you. And if we’re not doing it, you need to call us on it. I encourage you to check us on it. We have people that come to the council meetings and you know they have issues and things that we want to address. And I truly mean that.  Please contact me.
Tell me the things that you’re looking for in your community. Understand that the things that have always been done, the way it's been done, the way that it has to be. 
So when you have someone that's on the council and I truly believe that we were all elected because we wanted to make a difference and improve our city in some way. 
So  bring your changes, bring your ideas, know that I'm open to listening to them and know that I really, really want to make our city the best place to live, work and play. 

As you guys know, I'm super passionate about getting more people involved in local government.  I want to increase voter turnout. We have a  midterm election coming up this year and Presidential elections going on. And me being in the seat that  I am on the city council, I believe that it affects at all levels.
And understand going forward, you'll see more of that from me. You'll see me encouraging more people to come to these meetings. You'll see me encouraging more young folks to get involved and do more than a 2%  turnout. 
So you'll see more of me encouraging you and you'll see now that I have two years on the council and I kind of seen it; You never know everything I'm just much more comfortable with, okay, this is my city too, right? 
. So I'm asking you, thank you for your continued support. Call me out if you say, Hey Candice you said you're going to make changes. Make sure I'm doing those things. Come to this meeting. Let me know what you like to see and trust and understand that I'm doing the very best that I can and I can only do that with your help. 
Thank you guys.

Music by: Fat Joe and Remy Ma- A