Photos by J.Wright
D.C. City Councilman Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) is surrounded by family and is sworn in by D.C. Superior
Court Chief Judge Lee F. Satterfield.
By James Wright
AFRO Staff Writer
(Januray 7, 2009) - Pledging to fight for economic development, better schools and a vote in the U.S. Congress, the D.C. Council’s newest member and five incumbents were sworn in Jan. 2 at the Washington Convention Center for the next four years. All said they looked forward to working with the Democratic Congress and the administration of Barack Obama.
Newly elected at-large member Michael Brown took the oath of office along with his re-elected Democratic colleagues -- Jack Evans (Ward 2), Muriel Bowser (Ward 4), Yvette Alexander (Ward 7), Marion Barry (Ward 8) and Kwame Brown (At-Large).
Brown’s election on Nov.4 as an at-large member made the council majority Black, which it had not been for several years.
The District is 56 percent Black, 36 percent White and the rest Latino, Asian and Native American.
Presided over by D.C. City Council Chairman Vincent Gray (D), the ceremony is the start of the 18th Period of the Council, which lasts until Dec. 31, 2010. Remarks were delivered by D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Former council members Sandy Allen, Vincent Orange, Betty Anne Kane, James Nathanson and Frank Smith also attended the ceremony as well as former Mayor Sharon Pratt.
D.C. City Councilwoman Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) takes her oath of office from D.C. Superior Court
Judge Mary A. Gooden Terrell, with her family watching
D.C. City Councilwoman Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) is sworn in by D.C. Superior Court Judge
Lee F. Satterfield as her family looks on.
Michael Brown is sworn in for his first term on the D.C. City Council by Superior Court Senior Judge
Paul Webber administering as his family looks on.
D.C. City Councilman Kwame Brown (D-At-Large), with his family, takes the oath from D.C. Superior
Judge Zinora M. Mitchell-Rankin.