Betsy Hodges was sworn in as the 47th mayor of Minneapolis Thursday, pledging her oath of service in front of a crowd of city leaders, campaign staff and family members.<br /><br />Coined the “Kids’ Inaugural” event, Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony was the first event in a 10-day tour highlighting Hodges’ priorities as Mayor of Minneapolis.<br /><br />Directing much of her inaugural speech to a handful of children at the event, DFLer Hodges — a former Minneapolis City Council member — said she promised to “make Minneapolis a great city – especially for you as you grow up.”<br /><br />Turning her attention to the adults, Hodges added that her vision for a unified Minneapolis required both children and adults to make that same promise toward, “One Minneapolis.”<br /><br />Hodges then thanked R.T. Rybak, the outgoing Minneapolis Mayor who held the office the past 12 years, for “charting the course that brought us so well to this moment.”<br /><br />“We owe you a debt that we cannot repay,” Hodges said.<br /><br />Other attendees at Hodges’ inauguration ceremony included U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, several Minneapolis City Council and School Board members, and her immediate family.<br /><br />Hodges’ formal inaugural ceremony is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 6, in the Minneapolis City Hall Rotunda. Distributed by OneLoad.com
