SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

ATTLEBORO - The city's inauguration ceremony, which Mayor Kevin Dumas has promised will have more "pomp and circumstance" than in the past, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Bray Auditorium at Attleboro High School.

The public is invited to the event, which will feature Dumas' third inaugural address and the presence of prominent state and county officials who will be on hand to administer the oaths of office to 24 city officials.

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray is to give the oath of office to Dumas, Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson will swear in City Clerk Betty Shockroo, District Attorney Sam Sutter will swear in City Collector Deb Marcoccio and Lisa Nelson, who heads the Attleboro office of U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, will administer the oath of office to City Treasurer Ethel Sandbach.

State lawmakers will swear in members of the council and school committee. Dumas and School Superintendent Pia Durkin teamed up to plan the ceremonies that will feature a procession of officials, music by the high school's marching band and color guards made up of city veterans, police and high school students.

Asked if he plans to sing or play the piano as in the past, the mayor was mum.

"We'll see," he said.

He also was closed-mouth about his speech, in which he plans to lay out city goals for the next two years. Dumas did say it includes at least one new initiative and plans for the continuation of other projects.

High school and middle school music groups will perform, as will the choir from St. John the Evangelist Church.

Student council members will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and high school student Lauren Bamford is on tap to sing the national anthem.

Culinary arts students will cut and serve cake at the end of the ceremony.

Dumas said the numerous musical groups and heavy student participation is intended to make the biennial ceremony "more of an event" for viewers and participants.

"We've tried to involve as many people as we could," Dumas said.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.