Wilmington city officials take oath of office

After an inauguration ceremony Tuesday night, Wilmington has a change of guard.

Mayor Mike Purzycki, the city treasurer and the City Council president and members took their oaths of office.

"We can envision a beautiful, well-maintained and safe city committed to the rebuilding of neighborhoods, employment for the jobless, an energetic downtown populated by young entrepreneurs, while driven by an economic development machine that will be surely be part of our DNA," Purzycki said in his inauguration address. "Our objective is growth, more jobs, more residents and more construction."

City Council President Hanifa Shabazz and City Treasurer Velda Jones-Potter made history by becoming the first black women in their roles.

Shabazz thanked Allah and her family after she was sworn in and said she follows many other women in leadership roles across the country. "Women administrators who will bring new leadership styles, decision-making processes that are different than those of the past, which I know will take some time to get adjusted to," she said.

The City Council has an influx of fresh faces with six members who have never held elected office. On Tuesday, veteran Councilwoman Loretta Walsh was appointed president pro tempore, or the council member who steps in if the president is unable to fulfill her duties.

Purzycki acknowledged his new department heads at the inauguration ceremony, some of whom worked for former Mayor Dennis P. Williams' administration. Purzycki enters office without his own police chief, hanging on to sitting Chief Bobby Cummings long enough to conduct a nationwide search for a replacement.

STORY: Wilmington: New leaders, same violence problem to solve

STORY: Wilmington City Council begins new era with new faces

Former Mayor Jim Baker said he is hopeful for Purzycki's administration. His advice: Be open to ideas and stay humble.

"Get the best staff you can get, come up with your own vision after you’ve listened to people… and then go from there and just be honest with people," he said. "I used to tell my staff if we goof up, tell people, rather than try to hide it. You’re better off saying ‘It didn’t work.’"

Contact Christina Jedra at (302) 324-2837 or cjedra@delawareonline.com.

The new Wilmington City Council 

City Council President: Democrat Hanifa Shabazz

District 1: Democrat Nnamdi Chukwuocha

District 2: Democrat Ernest "Trippi" Congo II

District 3: Democrat Zanthia Oliver

District 4: Democrat Michelle Harlee

District 5: Democrat Vashun Turner

District 6: Democrat Yolanda McCoy

District 7: Democrat Robert A. Wiliams

District 8: Democrat Bud Freel

At-large: 

Democrat Loretta Walsh

Democrat Rysheema Dixon

Democrat Samuel L. Guy

Republican Ciro Adams