January 2, 2012 by Mark H. Anbinder
"I know that when you have people that are full of passion and compassion and willingness to work, nothing's impossible," said City of Ithaca mayor Svante Myrick on Sunday morning, after he was sworn in by City Clerk Julie Conley Holcomb. Addressing an overflow crowd who turned out to see Myrick and new members of Ithaca's Common Council sworn in, he talked about his campaign team and his family and their roles in his success.
Departing members of Common Council receive "gifts" from their colleagues. 14850 Photo.The first Common Council meeting of 2012 began shortly after the scheduled 10am start time, as Mayor Carolyn Peterson gave each alderperson -- some stepping down from their seats, and others remaining in office -- an opportunity to speak. In some cases, they gave their colleagues gag gifts; fifth ward alderperson Deborah Mohlenhoff presented departing wardmate Dan Cogan, who'd worked on the City's municipal water plan, a bottle of what she called "Bolton Point Reserve."
Mayor Peterson took a turn, as well, outlining some of what the City has faced in recent years, and what it faces in years to come, adding that she looks forward to focusing for a little while on "being a grandma." (Her daughter and grandchildren were in the front row of spectators.) She then ceremonially handed her gavel to her successor.
Svante Myrick is surrounded by family members as he's sworn in as Mayor by City Clerk Julie Holcomb. 14850 Photo.After Holcomb swore in the new mayor, surrounded by his visiting family members, he in turn gave the oath of office to incoming Common Council members Cynthia Brock, Seph Murtagh, Donna Fleming, Graham Kerslick, and Chris Proulx, each of whom took their respective seats in the chamber.
Myrick, who had served on Common Council as a fourth ward alderperson for the last four years, took his place at the front of the room, and then spoke about the campaign team and family who'd helped him reach this point at the young age of 24. "The greatest team of people I've ever known, my campaign chairperson Nathan Shinagawa, my campaign manager Fil Eden, Karen Schillinger, Rob Flaherty, and many of the people in this room, turned what seemed to be an impossible dream into a reality last month."
He says his family, arrayed around him, "took a situation, they took a young man born into difficult circumstances, and they conspired -- they conspired! -- to make this possible. They worked and they sacrificed and they supported me -- they still support me. You know, my mom, who I'm so happy is here, lifted me up and made this possible."
It wasn't Leslie Myrick's first visit to Ithaca. The new mayor's mom went door to door on September 13th, asking voters to get out and vote for her son in the Democratic primary election. On Sunday, clearly touched by the community's strong support for her son, she shared the credit with Svante's many friends and volunteers, who "care so deeply for him."
Before adjourning the meeting, which lasted about an hour, Mayor Myrick nodded to the predecessor who has seen the City through recent difficult economic times. "Mayor Peterson listed the challenges we're facing. I know, because I've seen it happen, that when we come together, and we will come together -- the people in this room and the people outside of it -- we will work together to make sure that the city of Ithaca is as wonderful, terrific, magical place to live as it is now, and it will be for the next four years."
