Victory
Kirk Set for 2nd Inaugural
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
By Richard Gaines(reproduced from the Gloucester Daily Times)
One-time business consultant Carolyn Kirk begins her second two-year-term as the city’s first publicly elected female mayor tomorrow, the reward for a re-election that was barely contested.
A new City Council and School Committee will also be sworn into office in ceremonies in the City Hall Auditorium that begin at 4 p.m.
Kirk who turned 48 on Dec. 21, will take the oath of office in the presence of her father, Jay Anderson, who is traveling from the family home in Clinton, N.Y. His health did not enable him to see his daughter’s first swearing-in two years ago.
There will be a changing of the guard in the city’s elected bodies.
The council will have a new president. Outgoing president Bruce Tobey confirmed yesterday he will not seek the gavel for a second term. Tobey was re-elected to one of the four at-large seats.
The School Committee will also have a new leader. Outgoing chairman Greg Verga was elected to the Ward 5 seat on the council.
In all, there will be six new members of the elected government — including at-large councilor Bob Whynott, ward councilors Paul McGeary (Ward 1), Ann Frontiero Mulcahey (Ward 2), and School Committee members Roger Garberg and Kathleen Clancy.
Kirk said the theme of her inaugural address will be “what our generation of leadership is being called upon to face — to answer the call, we need good government, a well-managed city and citizen participation.”
Gloucester Poet Laureate John Ronan will deliver a newly written poem and Iain Kerr, CEO of the Ocean Alliance, which acquired the Paint Factory via a grant from the Annenberg Foundation, will opine about the stewardship of the harbor and the ocean, duties that weigh heavily on Gloucester’s shoulders, Kirk said.
David Bergeron, executive director of the Massachusetts Fisherman’s Partnership will also speak.
Anne Dineen, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, will deliver the invocation and benediction.
Kirk had no serious challenge to her second term. A preliminary campaign was forced by the presence of three mayoral candidates — Dan Ruberti, who runs for the post almost every two years, and Councilor Sharon George.
After Ruberti was eliminated, George decided against the uphill challenge that awaited her, leaving Kirk with a walkover November victory.
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