As the city of Madison swore in its alders to the City Council Tuesday, the outgoing alders thanked their fellow council members and imparted wisdom and advice to those assuming their seats.

Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, stepped in to replace Eli Judge and Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, assumed the seat of Brenda Konkel who lost the aldermanic race by only 62 votes.

Since Eagon is currently a University of Wisconsin junior and Maniaci is a UW alumna, Judge said the role of students on the city level will be justly represented.

However, he told the council they all need to take students’ opinions and rights into consideration.

“If there is one thing that I could impart on all of you, it is that the students have the capacity and the wherewithal to fully understand all of the issues that we discuss here on this council floor,” Judge said. “There are a lot of students I assure you that really do understand where we’re coming from on these issues and what is really best for those neighborhoods.”

According to Judge, the reason the needs of UW students are often overlooked is because students are considered transitory and the majority are usually in Madison for only four years.

Eagon, who was endorsed by Judge, said he is very excited to work hard to maintain and develop the relationship between students and non-students on a city level.

Eagon went on to say while continuing Judge’s efforts to combat the perceived dismissive mentality of the city toward students, he will also continually assert the integral role the campus plays in the city as a whole.

“I definitely want to represent student interests and show that not only are we informed and educated on issues that relate to students, but we also care about issues throughout all Madison,” Eagon said.

Maniaci also vowed to speak on behalf of students, adding students make up a large portion of her district, and she will act and seek results in regard to student concerns.

“I love the university atmosphere and how much it is a part of my life … and many of the concerns of students are many of the concerns of my friends and neighbors,” Maniaci said.

Konkel, who surrendered her seat to Maniaci, was widely recognized by council members for not only her ability to work with people at all levels of this rank and file but also her dedication to those of lesser means.

Konkel offered pieces of advice she gleaned from her eight years of experience on the council and told incoming and remaining alders to listen to anyone with something to say, constantly ask questions and always be transparent, predictable and flexible.

“I said what I think all along and I never held back,” Konkel said. “I can honestly say I have no regrets.”

Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14, who was re-elected to serve a second term as City Council president, advised the current and incoming alders to maintain close relationships and cooperate with city staff.

“You are only as effective as the number of people in the coalition of this body you can bring together in conjunction with city staff,” Bruer said. “When you go to look at city staff in terms of department heads and other people in the rank and file, they are without question the backbone of city hall.”

Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, was also reelected as president pro tem during the meeting.

— Heather Burian contributed to this report.