Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson was sworn in Tuesday before 400 people crammed into City Council chambers.
It was the third time she has been sworn in during the current four-year mayoral term. The first was the day the late Mayor D. Michael Collins was placed into a medically induced coma after a cardiac arrest, and the second was shortly after his Feb. 6 death. She acknowledged the tragic circumstance under which she took over in February.
State Sen. Edna Brown (D., Toledo) called Mayor Hicks-Hudson a “servant leader” for the people of Toledo.
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Mayor Hicks-Hudson acknowledged the city has problems, although she was not specific.
“My resolve remains steady to work diligently with all partners to ensure that our citizens enjoy safe and livable neighborhoods,” the mayor said.
She said Toledoans “can be proud” that the city is compassionate.
“We have challenges ahead, no doubt about it,” Mayor Hicks-Hudson said before calling on other elected officials and city bureaucrats to work with her.
The packed room applauded and cheered for the new mayor after she was sworn in by 6th District Court of Appeals Judge Arlene Singer.
Ms. Hicks-Hudson last ran for office in November, 2011, when she received 4,739 votes to win the District 4 council seat, which placed her fifth among the six councilmen winning election that year. Then-Councilman Collins received the most votes with 9,312 to win re-election to his District 2 council seat.
Voters on Nov. 3 returned Ms. Hicks-Hudson, the endorsed Democrat, to fill the two years remaining in the term of the Mayor Collins with 35.45 percent of the vote, or 22,411 votes. Her closest runner-up, former mayor Mike Bell, got 17.3 percent.
Following Mr. Bell were former mayor Carty Finkbeiner with 15.7 percent; Mr. Collins' widow, Sandy Drabik Collins with 14.6 percent; Councilman Sandy Spang with 10.9 percent; former Councilman Mike Ferner with 4.9 percent, and evangelist Opal Covey with 0.8 percent.
Council President Steven Steel, also a Democrat, said the mayor’s remarks were appropriate.
“Obviously, we have specific challenges but we are poised on the edge of greatness also,” Mr. Steel said. “She hit on the three areas: the mayor’s office, the administration that works for the mayor’s office, and council all have to be on the same page to keep the city moving forward.”
First Published November 25, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
