ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was a day of firsts for the city of St. Petersburg at Thursday's council swearing-in ceremony.
- Robert Blackmon, Deborah Figgs-Sanders sworn in Thursday
- 6 of 8 council seats now filled by women, a new record
- More Pinellas County stories
Two new council members were introduced, Robert Blackmon (District 1) and Deborah Figgs-Sanders (District 5). Figgs-Sanders is set to serve alongside Councilwoman Lisa Wheeler-Bowman (District 7), marking the first time more than one African-American has served on the council at the same time.
"We have been African-American all our lives," Sanders said. "And we understand what it's going to take in order to move that needle from being equal to being equitable."
The addition of Sanders to Councilwomen Wheeler-Bowman, Darden Rice (District 4), Amy Foster (District 8), Gina Driscoll (District 6), and Brandy Gabbard (District 2) marks the first time so many women have served on the city council in the city's history.
"So many times women are put on the back burner," Wheeler-Bowman said. "As if we don't know how to lead. Well, we are about to show them. Just sit back and watch."
Women weren't the only ones making history in St. Pete. Councilman Robert Blackmon, 30, was sworn in as the city's youngest council member.
"We are such a diverse community," Blackmon said. "There's two African-American women on the council for the first time. There's a supermajority of women for the first time. I think you can learn from everybody and diversity really is strength."