"Mayor Steve" Sworn in to Office with Huntington City Council

Friday, January 4, 2013 - 08:16 Updated 18 weeks ago by Tony Rutherford HuntingtonNews.Net Reporter

Mayor Steve Williams delivers exceptional city speech

Photo by Glen Berry

"Mayor Steve" has kicked off 2013 with an inaugural ceremony at the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center.

Steve Williams, a former at-large member of city council, took the oath of office before several hundred enthusiastic supporters on Thursday, Jan. 3. Sworn in by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Chambers, Williams took the oath with his wife , Mary Poindexter Williams, at his side.

After taking the oath, a bouquet of roses was delivered to the new First Lady.

Williams inaugural speech articulately roused the crowd with hints of the charge to "Exceptional City" status, which broadened the comparative boundaries past the West Virginia state line.

Challenging the city to grow through economic development, he reaffirmed his no tax/ no fee increase pledge and announced the reopening of union negotiations with Local 298 of the International Association of Firefighters and Local 598 of American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

An up to two percent "preventive" across the board budget cut will soon be enacted; however, there will be no layoffs. He has frozen non essential purchases and frozen hiring.

He emphasized the need for community commitment emphasizing the city's resilience and binding together following the Marshall air crash in November 1970.

A copy of the address in full can be downloaded by PDF. An extensive photo gallery will follow.

Inaugural Speech (156.19 KB)

"Mayor Steve" Sworn in to Office with Huntington City Council

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