Kasim Reed Is Sworn In As Atlanta’s Mayor After Heated Election

ATLANTA – Former Georgia state Sen. Kasim (kuh-SEEM) Reed is being sworn into office as Atlanta’s 59th mayor.

Reed officially took over for two-term Mayor Shirley Franklin on Monday. She had to step down because of term limits.

Reed overcame early low poll numbers to win a runoff over city councilwoman Mary Norwood. She was trying to become the mostly black city’s first white mayor in a generation.

Reed says his first priority will be to find money to hire more police officers. He says his administration also will crack down on aggressive panhandling.

The mayor’s office is a nonpartisan post, so neither candidate declared a party in the race.