Post Date: 12/29/2016 10:30 AM

The public is invited to this historic event to be held at the Grand on Market Street

Wilmington’s new Mayor, Mike Purzycki, its new City Council President, Hanifa Shabazz and its new Treasurer, Velda Jones Potter, are preparing to take their oaths of office next Tuesday evening during an historic inauguration event in downtown Wilmington. Also to be sworn-in next week are 12 district and at-large members of the Wilmington City Council, seven of whom are newly elected.

The public is invited to the swearing-in ceremony that will occur on Tuesday evening, January 3 during the organizational meeting of the 107th Session of the Wilmington City Council at the Grand on Market Street. The doors will open at 7:45 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 8. Seats to the ceremony are free and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Purzycki, Shabazz and Jones Potter urged citizens to attend this event and be part of history. What is particularly historic about Tuesday’s event is that both Council President-elect Shabazz and Treasurer-elect Jones Potter will become the first women and African Americans in the City’s history to be elected to these important public service positions.

“The fact that two women of color will, for the first time, hold these positions of responsibility will make Tuesday evening a very special night for our City,” said Mayor-elect Purzycki. “I am especially looking forward to working with Hanifa, all of Council and with Velda to move this wonderful City forward on a variety of fronts.”

“I am so grateful to have received the support of the majority of the voters and I am humbled by the encouragement I continue to receive from people throughout our City,” said Council President-elect Shabazz. “It is heartening especially when women and people of color tell me they are proud of what I have achieved and remind me what this means for others who will choose public service in the future as a way to help our City and our neighborhoods.”

"This is a seminal moment for Wilmington and the historic significance for our community and our children cannot be overstated," said President-Elect Shabazz. I am looking forward to presiding over council as the first woman during this unprecedented time in our City's history and I look forward to working closely with the new Mayor and Treasurer on the many issues that we must solve together.”

Treasurer-elect Jones Potter achieved another first in 2009 when she was appointed State Treasurer by Governor Jack Markell and became the first African-American ever to serve in a statewide elected office in Delaware’s history. “I am very excited to assume the office of City Treasurer,” said Jones Potter. “It carries with it a great deal of responsibility related to the fiscal health of our City. I am thankful to the citizens of Wilmington for their confidence in my ability to help shape a brighter future for Wilmington. To be the first woman and African American to serve as Treasurer just adds to the honor I feel in serving in this office.”

Also to be sworn-in next Tuesday evening are the new and returning members of City Council which include: