I took the oath of office in a public ceremony this afternoon in the City Council chambers at City Hall. Joleen is with me as the Rev. Dan Baumgartner administers the oath. Dan is my pastor.
The chamber was packed full, a lot of my friends and supporters showed up. Here are the remarks I shared after taking the oath:
Thank you, Dan. You’ve been my friend for 20 years and my pastor for nearly 10 years. You have been an inspiration to many, including myself, because of your advocacy on behalf of the vulnerable and those living in poverty both here in Seattle and overseas in the developing countries. You have been an advocate for social and economic justice and for racial reconciliation. Thank you for your commitment to our city and for your leadership.
Forty years ago on this very site, but in an earlier building, I wandered the halls as an 18 year old cub reporter with my little tape recorder trying my best to report on city affairs and politics. Never did I dream back then that one day I would stand here as a member of our City Council. And so I accept this position as the 313th member of the Council with humility and a great respect for those who have served before me.
I’m grateful for the trust and confidence the citizens of Seattle have shown in me and I will work hard to maintain that trust and confidence. I look forward to serving our city with my colleagues, and the Mayor, and the nearly 11,000 city employees, women and men who work diligently day in and day out.
I’m particularly grateful for my committee assignments, especially the new Public Safety, Human Services and Education committee. We have come so far as a people, yet much remains to be done to insure that our neighborhoods are safe, that our children receive a quality education, that the poor and vulnerable are cared for, and that our city services are delivered in a fair, just, and equitable manner. As Rev. King said so eloquently “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” With my colleagues, I want to make sure we are doing our part to bend that arc even further. Thank you.