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-Editorial
The City of Phoenix hosted the official swearing-in ceremony for its newly elected mayor and city council members on Monday morning at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix. The public event marked the beginning of a new term for several city leaders, including Mayor Kate Gallego, who took the Oath of Office for her third term.
Joining Mayor Gallego in the ceremony were Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien, Councilwoman Debra Stark, Councilwoman Betty Guardado, and Councilwoman Anna Hernandez. Each official delivered brief remarks following the oath, highlighting their priorities for the coming years.
Mayor Gallego emphasized her administration’s focus on job creation, infrastructure investment, and family support programs. “Today, I was sworn in for the third time as Phoenix’s mayor. I’m more energized than ever to keep delivering for my city,” Gallego said. She pointed to achievements such as the addition of 10,000 bioscience jobs, a $65 billion semiconductor manufacturing plant, expanded apprenticeships, and major public investments in housing, education, and safety.
Gallego, first elected mayor in 2019 after serving on the City Council, has led several major initiatives during her tenure. These include a citywide GO Bond for community development projects, climate resilience efforts like cool corridors and tree equity, and the establishment of a city heat mitigation office—one of the first in the nation.
She has also played a prominent role in public safety reform. In 2020, the Phoenix City Council approved a new civilian oversight board for the police department after community advocacy and negotiations among council members, including Gallego and Vice Mayor Guardado.
Gallego is the second elected female mayor in Phoenix’s history and one of the youngest big-city mayors in the United States. A Harvard graduate with an MBA from the Wharton School, she previously worked in economic development and tourism and remains focused on positioning Phoenix as a leader in innovation, sustainability, and opportunity.