Supervisor Ridley-Thomas takes the Oath of Office from Dr. Robert Ross
The Supervisor was sworn-in to a second term on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors amidst throngs of well-wishers from the community, public officials, construction workers, members of the staff of King/Drew hospital (where the ceremony was held); county and city department heads including (D.A. Jackie Lacey, Sheriff Lee Baca, William Fujioka and City Council president Herb Wesson; and two of his colleagues on the Board – Supervisors Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky . In addition, the Supervisor’s wife, Mrs. Avis Ridley-Thomas, and some family members were also present.
Along with the Color Guard, the invocation and the speakers who extolled the Supervisor’s accomplishments not only in general, but during his first term and specifically as it related to the revitalization of King/Drew hospital, there was a recitation by three students. They were from local schools in the second district and their presentation was very innovative and their style of greetings and welcoming the guests had a bit of hip-hop flavor.
After the speakers were through, Supervisor Ridley-Thomas took the oath of office from Dr. Robert Ross, president and CEO of the California Endowment, who is also instrumental in assisting with the revitalization of King/Drew hospital. Then the Supervisor spoke laying out his vision for the district for the next four years.
Though Supervisor Mike Antonovich was unable to attend, his office forwarded the following statement about his colleague:
“Supervisor Ridley-Thomas has worked cooperatively and effectively with his colleagues on the Board of Supervisors. Focusing on issues — rather than politics – Mark has demonstrated a strong ability to lead on vital projects including the transformation of Martin Luther King Hospital and a regional transportation system for the entire county. Mark’s leadership as Chairman of the Board and his ability to foster a cooperative working environment will build a foundation for meeting the challenges we will face in 2013.”
