Victoria Jackson-Stanley took her oath of office on July 21 before a crowd of approximately 300 residents, friends, family and well-wishers. 

By Zephyr Crenshaw

CAMBRIDGE – On July 21, Cambridge, Md. set its new history on course with the swearing in of Victoria Jackson-Stanley as the first African American and the first female mayor of the city. For the first time in years, the taking the oath of office was an event, with approximately 300 people in attendance along with both print and television media outlets.

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Mayor Jackson-Stanley was supported by her extended family, a large contingent of Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters, church members, friends, co-workers and well-wishers from the community and beyond. After taking the oath of office, the new mayor seized the moments to address those present and to share her vision and plans for her first 100 days of office.

She described the city she envisioned, one with jobs, opportunities and recreation for our youth and young adults, with booming retail and affordable housing for all. She then described the type of city government she wants to create, one accessible to the average citizen, operating with civility, ease of access to information and an outward reflection of progressiveness and positive forward movement.

On a tangential note, she said, "There is no quick fix to the situation – the problems and the programs and the issues of the City of Cambridge. For over 300 years we've been incorporated as a city, so just because the history making black female is taking office, please do not assume that I'll go ... [she snapped her fingers] and it's done. It takes all of us. It takes all of us to get the work done."

Watch Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley's Acceptance Speech:

Her priorities for the start of her four year term are:

§ Environmental concerns – She wants to initiate a study on the feasibility of curbside recycling. "If it's cost effective for us," she said, "we are going to work on that."

§ Better stewardship – The council is working on an independent and comprehensive audit of all of the city's finances. As part of the new administration, she needs to know where the money is coming from how it is being used and what is left for some of the things the new administration and council want to accomplish. Then the council will have public forums to share the audit's findings with the residents of the city.

§ Youth initiatives – She is planning to have a citywide youth summit, where children are invited to talk to the mayor about their concerns, desires and wishes for the city. She wants to include the children in the discussions and incorporate their thoughts. Then she wants to establish a Commission on Youth

§ Maximize utilization of the city's website – wants to make it more informative and user friendly. "I'm a Google queen.," she said. "If I want to find out something, I google it."

Before giving her first orders as mayor – arranging for photo opportunities of the event with sorority sisters and family – she closed her address with a line from a Delta pledge, that appears to be a guide for her administration, "I will strive to preserve a calm mind, with a courageous spirit, barring bitterness from my heart and I will strive all the more earnestly to reach our goal."

See Mayor Jackson-Stanley's Acceptance Speech