By OBSERVER Newsroom
In a swift, but at times emotional meeting at city hall, newly elected Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty and other members of the city council were sworn in in front of a packed council chamber Tuesday evening.
McCarty became the city’s 57th mayor and the second African American mayor in the city’s history following his narrow victory over opponent Dr. Flojaune Cofer.
Also being sworn in were new council members Roger Dickinson (District 2) and Phil Pluckebaum (District 4), and re-elected members Eric Guerra (District 6) and Mai Vang (District 8).
McCarty, a former state assemblymember and former member of the Sacramento city council, took the time to thank his family, friends and supporters for joining him, however, he also spoke emotionally about who could not be there on this special night.
“There’s a seminal person who isn’t here tonight, but I know that she’s here with us in spirit, and that’s my mom,” McCarty said while holding back tears.
“She was here 20 years ago when the city manager and I were over at the temporary city hall when we were sworn in. She’s been gone for 16 years. I feel her consistently, and I know that last Monday, on December 2nd, we got the word that we … won this election by 1,941 votes. And I said, ‘Of course I did. That’s the year she was born.’”
McCarty also shared how while at a new mayor academy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government — the school of public policy and government of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts — he reflected on his ascension to the city’s highest office.
“I walked around that morning and I thought, ‘Wow, here at Harvard Kennedy School, it’s a long way from Winterstein Adult School’ where I got my diploma 35 years ago and got a second chance.”
McCarty said he will be embarking on a 90-day listening tour of the city as a way to engage as many of the city residents as possible.
“To the people of Sacramento, thank you for voting for me, for selecting me, 96,000 people strong. Thank you. It’s an amazing number in front of me, but I’m also reminded of the other number, 94,000 people who voted for somebody else, because I am your mayor as well. I intend, and I know that I will serve as a proud mayor for all of Sacramento, because, after all, we are one Sacramento.”