A new era has begun in the city of Evansville, with the inauguration of the city’s first female mayor and mayor of color. WNIN’s John Gibson reports:
"...so help me God."
State Representative Ryan Hatfield administered the oath of office to Stephanie Terry in front of an energized, overflow crowd at Terry ’s alma mater, Bosse High School.
Before she addressed the crowd, the Rev. Adrian Brooks offered a prayer of thanks echoing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:
"Thank you for allowing us to see an example of what it looks like when we select individuals based not on the color of their skin but on the content of their character, and their skills and their abilities. Thank you, Lord.
The man Terry has replaced, Former Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, asked the community to unite around the new mayor:
"I know that Mayor Terry will bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and a deep love for Evansville."
And Terry marked the history of the moment:
"Now is the time for us to put aside division and politics. Now is the time to put aside that saying 'that's how we've always done it' and work together for the betterment for all of Evansville. When we do, we will insure that E is truly for Everyone."
Terry will soon announce a plan for her first 100 days in office.