New Minneapolis Mayor Hodges sworn in

Hodges inauguration
New Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, with her husband Gary Cunningham by her side, takes the oath of office Thursday, Jan. 2, 2013 during her inauguration ceremony at the Thorpe Building in northeast Minneapolis.
MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson

Betsy Hodges officially became mayor of Minneapolis Thursday after taking the oath of office at the Thorp Building in Northeast Minneapolis, a former factory that's been converted into artist studios.

Her campaign billed the event as a "kids inaugural" with family-friendly attractions, including mural painting. It kicks off a 10-day tour of the city in which Hodges will highlight her agenda in areas such as transportation, public safety and "winter tourism."

Hodges will participate in a second inauguration ceremony on Monday. That's when the new city council gets sworn in. She'll also have an inaugural party on Jan. 11 that will be free and open to the public.

Hodges campaigned on a pledge of fiscal responsibility and closing the economic gaps between the city's minority and white residents.

She's served two terms on the City Council and chaired its Ways & Means/Budget Committee. She'll become the city's 47th mayor succeeding R.T. Rybak.

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