FRAMINGHAM – Yvonne Spicer promised to be the people's mayor as she campaigned to become the first mayor in Framingham's history.

On Monday, after a resounding electoral victory, Spicer will take the stage in Nevins Hall and reinforce those ideals in remarks that will follow her swearing in as the city's top elected official.

“It’s a promise to the people,” said Spicer, who defeated John Stefanini in the November election. “It’s about the promise to the people because that’s what speaks to my soul. It’s very meaningful. It speaks volumes about the community that I was chosen as the first mayor. We’re a very diverse people with divergent thinking. It’s very exciting and very humbling to take 20-plus years of leadership experience … and bringing that to Framingham.”

The inauguration will start at noon at the Memorial Building and is expected to attract a large crowd. Keynote speakers include U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Secretary of State William F. Galvin.

“It’s a big day, no question,” said City Council Chairman Dennis Giombetti. “I think because it’s the first. It’s a big deal when you have a first of anything, especially when you have a first day of a city. You don’t have that every year.”

When Framingham voted to become a city in April, it was a close vote – a little more than 100 votes separated the two sides. It wasn’t the first effort to make Framingham a city, doing away with the town meeting form of government, instead electing a mayor and city council to guide the community starting on Monday. There had been at least seven different efforts in the 20th century to make Framingham a city.

“I always felt like it was a matter of ‘when,’ instead of ‘if,’” said Giombetti, who previously served on the Board of Selectmen. “It’s something I’ve been advocating for several years. Many people have embraced it.”

Unlike the five-member board of selectmen, members of the new city council and school committee each represent one of nine new voting districts, which means there will be representation on those boards from all areas of town. There are also two-at large city councilors.

“That’s one of the things that is most inspiring,” said Spicer. “People will have representation from people in their neighborhood, someone who knows that neighborhood and has an investment in that neighborhood.”

Edgardo Torres is the District 9 City Councilor and lives on Interfaith Terrace in South Framingham. He said living there gives him an insight into what people there care about.

“This is a great opportunity and a great time to have a voice,” said Torres. “I feel like that I’ll be able to be their voice and relay their concerns. I feel like I can be that voice because I’m in the neighborhood and I’m from the area. This is the time, this is the moment, to be represented and to come together as one city, no matter if you live on the south side or the north side.”

Having citywide representation is one of the most important parts of Framingham becoming a city, Giombetti said.

“The core strength is we have equal representation throughout the town,” he said. “When I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, it was reversed; the south side of town had most of the political influence and power. It has now flipped in the ‘90s and 2000s, where the north side has most of the influence politically. This will be the first time we’ve had equal representation throughout the community.”

Spicer said she already met with those in leadership positions in town, and will meet with them individually after the inauguration. She will continue to work with Town Manager Robert Halpin as Framingham makes the transition from a town to a city government structure.

There are a lot of issues in the community she wants to address, such as blighted properties, economic development, environmental issues and improving schools.

She plans to collaborate with residents and city officials to reach those goals. And the City Council has its first meeting on Tuesday.

“We’re ready to hit the ground running,” said Spicer. “I made a point of meeting with each city council member and talk about their goals. We are all on the same page. At the end of the day, we’re here to work for the people of Framingham. We need to be focused on the work for the people.”

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

Who's coming to the ceremony

Framingham’s first-ever mayoral inauguration ceremony is attracting numerous well-known politicians and local notable citizens.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Secretary of State William F. Galvin are all scheduled to speak.

Others scheduled to attend include state Auditor Suzanne Bump, state Attorney General Maura Healey and state Sen. Karen E. Spilka. State Reps. Chris Walsh, Jack Lewis, Carmine Gentile, Russel Holmes and Byron Rushing.

Also expected to attend is Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, Democratic Party Chairman Gus Bickford and Chief of Community Engagement for the state Marchony Almedia-Barros.

Outgoing selectman Cesar Monzon and former selectman Ginger Esty are also scheduled to attend.