Mohegan — Four newly elected members of the Mohegan Tribal Council began four-year terms Monday following a private swearing-in ceremony.

Newcomer Joe Smith and incumbents Mark Brown, Thayne Hutchins Jr. and Cheryl Todd — all elected in tribal voting that concluded Aug. 30 — took their oaths at the Mohegan Church.

Hutchins and Todd were affirmed as treasurer and recording secretary, respectively.

Smith, who left his position as manager of tribal communications to serve on the council, won the seat vacated by Councilor Mark Sperry, who did not seek re-election.

“This demonstrates … the continued stability in our government,” Kevin Brown, the tribal chairman and Mark Brown’s brother, said. “Joe Smith comes on because of Mark Sperry’s decision to retire after long years of service in education and on the council.

“We won’t skip a beat.”

The nine-member council — five seats were not up for election — oversees the 2,000-member tribe's government and serves as the management board for the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, which operates Mohegan Sun in Uncasville and Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and manages Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.

The tribe recently partnered with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, which owns Foxwoods Resort Casino, to propose a third Connecticut casino.

The council also oversees the Mohegan Holdings Co., a tribal entity that pursues nongaming ventures.

Brown said Smith’s position in tribal government will be filled by Cathy Soper, Mohegan Sun’s public relations manager. Soper was chosen following interviews with a committee headed by Chuck Bunnell, the tribe’s chief of staff, according to Brown.

Soper’s successor as Mohegan Sun spokeswoman has yet to be named.

The other members of the tribal council are James Gessner Jr., the vice chairman; Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, William Quidgeon Jr. and Kathy Regan-Pyne, whose terms extend to 2017, as does Kevin Brown’s.

Mark Brown and Bozsum are former tribal chairmen.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com

Twitter: @bjhallenbeck