FRESNO, CA – Mayor Lee Brand’s inaugural address was the highlight of today’s ceremony at City Hall, as he reaffirmed his oath of office in the City Council chambers during the regularly scheduled Council meeting. He took his official oath of office with City Clerk Yvonne Spence on Tuesday, January 3 in front of Council chambers, the day appointed in the City Charter when newly elected officials may assume office.
The ceremony also included the swearing-in of two re-elected City Councilmembers — Steve Brand (District 2) and Paul Caprioglio (District 4) – as well as incoming Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld (District 6) and Luis Chavez (District 5.)
In his inaugural address, Mayor Brand thanked the many people who helped him win election last fall, recalled his emotional journey from a two-bedroom house on McKenzie Street to City Hall, and announced his agenda for the next four years which includes the creation of a Citizens Public Safety Advisory Board to assist the Fresno Police Department’s move to community-based policing and to provide more transparency and accountability by the department to the people of Fresno.
You can read the full speech here.
The invocation was delivered by Rev. Michelle Racusin of St. James Episcopal Cathedral while Daniel Payne, U.S.M.C, Ret. led the pledge of allegiance. Brianna Padilla sang the National Anthem.
A presentation of gifts to outgoing councilmembers and recognition of spouses and special guests were also part of the program as well as remarks by former Mayor Ashley Swearengin.
Since the event was held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled City Council meeting, the Council took care of some pertinent business, electing Clint Olivier as Council President and Esmeralda Soria as Council Vice President, and re-electing Oliver Baines and Paul Caprioglio as Chair and Vice Chair of the Successor Agency, respectively.