More on Monday’s Swearing-in Ceremony
APN has reported on the swearing in of Mayor Kasim Reed, which took place Monday.
But swearing in a new mayor wasn’t the only piece of business Monday at the Atlanta Civic Center. Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham administered the oath for 11 Municipal Court judges. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance C. Russell administered the oath for all 15 members of the Atlanta City Council, which includes five new members.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Marvin S. Arrington, Jr. administered the oath to City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, who even made an acceptance speech of his own.
“Atlanta’s leadership has always had the will and courage to meet the needs of the community,” he said. “Atlantans have chosen the difficult and often unpopular in order to find ourselves. Where we go from here is up to us.”
Mitchell echoed Reed when he said it is on citizens to make change through ”one kind word and one selfless action at a time.”
“We are not a city of walls. We are a city of people who depend on each other everyday and in every way,” Mitchell said.
Like Reed, Mitchell pledged to restore accountability and transparency to the process. “Government exists to serve the people,” he said. “City Hall will remain the people’s hall.”
Three former Atlanta mayors – Sam Massell, Andrew Young, and Shirley Franklin – offered words of encouragement and support for the new mayor.
“You can’t get this job done unless people understand what you are doing,” Young said. “Our mayor is the the communicator in chief.”
“You are as well-prepared as any of us are. We’re confident you will take it on to great heights,” Young added. “God is with you. The people are with you.”