By Assunta Ng
A thousand people witnessed the swearing in of Mayor Ed Murray, four council members, and the city attorney on Jan. 6 at City Hall. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)
Newly elected Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant gave a fiery speech, overshadowing other City Council members’ swearing in at City Hall last Monday.
Newly elected Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant celebrates her inauguration with Nicole Grant of the Washington State Labor Council. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)
A Socialist, Sawant gave a hard-line approach to push for her $15/hour minimum wage platform by creating a mass movement to pressure the mayor and City Council. She said, loud and clear, that there would be no compromise with the corporate world when dealing with the minimum wage. Collaboration is not her song.
After being sworn into office by U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke, right, Seattle’s new mayor, Ed Murray, left, receives a congratulatory embrace from his husband, Michael Shiosaki. The Jan. 6 ceremony at Seattle City Hall, which included the swearing in of four council members and City Attorney Peter Holmes, drew about 1,000 supporters, all of whom gave the mayor a standing ovation after his inaugural speech. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)
Some say she is a breath of fresh air. Others fear her boldness. Expect to see no peace between her and the Seattle City Council, and with Mayor Ed Murray. Sawant is not like any politician you have seen before. She takes no crap from anyone. It will be interesting for us to see how politics play out in 2014.
Meanwhile, Benson Wong is ceremonially sworn in as a Mercer Island City Council member by his wife, Terry Mark. (Photo provided by Benson Wong)
Perhaps the other council members don’t need to be concerned. Due to redistricting, every council member has to start all over in two years for a different seat. What have you got to lose? Just be bold like Sawant! The game has just begun.
Let’s watch the show. (end)