Paul Cunningham, who was reelected to the City Council from the northeast-sideโs Ward 2, addresses the crowd during the cityโs inauguration event downtown.
Minutes before Regina Romero was sworn in as Tucsonโs mayor, she stood in the lobby of the Leo Rich Theater and explained the pin she wore on her left lapel.
It was of Dolores Huerta, the civil rights leader who has fought for immigrants, women and workers. Romero, Tucsonโs first woman and second Latino to lead the city, credited Huerta for opening the door for her and so many others.
โItโs my small tribute to a fearless woman,โ Romero said, before heading onto the stage.
The pin was on full display as Romero took her oath of office in front of a standing-room-only crowd. She was greeted with standing applause from family, friends, colleagues and strangers as she pledged to โget to workโ lifting Tucson to the next level.
โI am humbled and honored to be your mayor,โ Romero said. โNever in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that the daughter of immigrant farm workers would be here today starting a historic journey with you as your mayor.โ
Romeroโs swearing in followed those of her colleagues. Councilwoman Lane Santa Cruz, Romeroโs replacement in Ward 1, went first. She was followed by Councilman Paul Cunningham, who was reelected in Ward 2. Then it was Nikki Lee, who took over in Ward 4.
Then came Romero, who addressed the crowd by saying, โSomos Uno,โ or โWe are one.โ
New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, left, speaks with Lane Santa Cruz, who succeeded Romero as the City Councilโs representative from the west sideโs Ward 1.
The ceremony marked the final public meeting for Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Councilwoman Shirley Scott, both of whom opted to retire instead of seeking reelection.
Scott, who served Ward 4 for more than two decades, told the crowd that under Romero, โthereโs going to be a bright future.โ
Among the attendees was former UA basketball captain Sue Darling, also a member of the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame and a former womenโs head basketball coach at Northern Arizona University. Darling, a self-described fan of women and a fan of Tucson, said she came to the event to โsee history.โ
โI just think itโs a great time for women to step forward and take the lead,โ said Darling, who voted for Romero. โIโm just excited about her vision and her ability to get people together and move together and keep our city marching forward.โ
Back in the lobby, Romero admitted that the reality of being mayor had not yet sunk in.
She described the last month since the election as a โwhirlwindโ and said sheโd spent the time rifling through 12 years of files, projects and certificates at her former office in Ward 1 while moving into her new digs downtown.
โEvery moment of it, Iโve enjoyed,โ she said, adding that one of her few breaks was spent with her family during Thanksgiving.
Ward 4 City Council member Nikki Lee is sworn in during the Tucson inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater. Lee replaced Shirley Scott, who represented the east-side ward for 24 years.
Romero detailed her first moves as mayor.
Sheโll start by raising the flags of the Tohono Oโodham and Yaqui tribes at City Hall to โpay respect to the place and the lands and the people that are from here.โ
Sheโll also put together advisory boards on climate change, economic development, infrastructure and equity.
Asked if that would take time away from fixing the roads, Tucsonโs most infamous problem, she said it wouldnโt be a problem.
โThe political process is not you either choose one thing or the other. The political process is layered. ... All of this you can do at the same time,โ Romero said.
Audience members get videos and stills during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
Photos: City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Tucson Mayor Regina Romero hugs outgoing mayor Jonathan Rothschild during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, left, speaks with new Ward 1 Council member Lane Santa Cruz during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Outgoing Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild hugs new Mayor Regina Romero during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Ward 4 Council member Nikki Lee is sworn-in during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Ward 2 Council member Paul Cunningham speaks during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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A Tucson Police officer leads the Honor Guard posting the colors during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Mariachi Millagro performms at the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Mariachi Milagro during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Departing Ward 4 Council member and Vice Mayor Shirley Scott makes a hearfelt speech during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, left, seated on the dais during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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New council member Nikki Lee of Ward 4 greats people after the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Ward 2 Council member Paul Cunningham is sworn-in during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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With New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero is sworn-in at the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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With her family by her side, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero is sworn-in during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Incoming Tucson City Council member Lane Santa Cruz holds a cihuatl and her son, while being sworn-in at the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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New Tucson Mayor Regina Romero embraces her family during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Audience members get videos and stills during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Outgoing Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild talks to new Mayor Regina Romero on the dais during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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The Reveille Men's Chorus sings at the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
City of Tucson Inauguration
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Protesters disrupting the ceremony are gently led away by Tucson Police officers during the City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.City of Tucson Inauguration ceremony at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson on Dec. 2, 2019.
