2020 Oath of Office Speech

January 13, 2020
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
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Good morning,

It is humbling beyond measure to share in this ceremony with all of you... and to take the oath of office for mayor for the 6th time.

While I may be the one in the spotlight... this day is not about me.

It’s about US.

It’s about a group that came together 17 years ago and said Orlando can, and must be, more... and then set to work to create a better future for our City... and everyone who calls it home.

It’s about how that group has grown... year after year... as a diverse spectrum of residents have come to our table of partnership... adding their time, talents, unique perspectives and ideas to our shared mission and vision.

It’s about everyone who has worked so hard to turn our vision into reality... and to constantly challenge the status quo.

More than anything.... today is about everyone who loves our City!

Because when it all comes down to it... love is the great intangible.

Love is our greatest strength.

Love... our love for Orlando... is what makes us different and makes us special.

Love is what makes us go the extra mile.

Love is what tells us what should and shouldn’t be a priority.

And, love is what will serve as the driving force behind our City’s successes... today, tomorrow and for years to come!

We’re so grateful that our community has emphatically chosen to continue the journey we started together 17 years ago.

We have so much to be proud of.

We have so much to be thankful for.

But, as we are fond of saying... success is not a destination.

It’s a direction.

And, we have so much more to accomplish, together.

So, today, we are asking all our partners to recommit themselves to the ambitious vision we have for our City.

• To continuing to diversify our economy and create the careers and companies of tomorrow. Remember, 85 percent of the jobs that our residents will have just ten years from now haven’t even been invented yet. We want those high-quality careers of tomorrow to be pioneered in Orlando, to be an engine for prosperity and quality of life.
• To extending opportunity to everyone who is willing to work hard and pursue their own version and vision of the American dream. That’s why we’re so focused on workforce development programs and partnerships that extend the ladder of opportunity to everyone.
• To expanding transportation options, so that every resident has a reliable and affordable transit option they need.
• To having a community where diversity and inclusion is fundamental to who we are.
• To solving big, important challenges like affordable housing and homelessness to ensure that anyone who wants to live in our city CAN live in our city.
• To making Orlando one of the most sustainable cities in the world... to showcasing how a modern city can protect our environment and our natural resources... and still have a robust economy.
• To own the future.... to be a City where innovation is part of everything we do... and where we leverage technology for the betterment of us all.
• Simply put... to continue building the best City anywhere on earth for everyone... EVERYONE... to live, work, learn, play and raise a family!

I’d like to recognize a few specific individuals.

First, our City Commissioners.

Commissioner Sheehan... congratulations on your reelection for your 6th term representing the residents of district 4.

Commissioner Ortiz was also reelected this year, congratulations to you and for the confidence the residents of district 2 continue to show in you.

Congratulations to our new District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burns... welcome to our City government... we are excited to work with you.

Commissioner Gray... Commissioner Stuart... and Commissioner Hill... thank you for your continued service.

Commissioners, you are all the best partners that any mayor in America has... and it is a distinct honor to work with you each and every day as we serve our residents.

Next, I want to recognize our City employees... the members of our “City Family” as we call them.

Often times... the focus of our City tends to be on its leadership.

We want our residents to know that every single day... there is an army of people working for them.

Making sure their trash gets picked up.

Keeping our city clean.

Helping businesses and entrepreneurs succeed.

Providing after school and summer programs for your kids.

Making sure we have incredible public spaces and parks to gather with friends and family.

Keeping us all safe.

And that is just to name a few things.

There are so many things that our City family members do for our residents that go unnoticed... but that work is the absolute foundation of our great City.

Our City family members don’t often get the credit they deserve... but I want to take a special moment today and make sure that they feel the love.

So, Commissioners would you please stand with me and salute and applaud all of our City employees for their unwavering dedication and service to our community!

Finally, we must thank every single individual at our table of partnership... everyone who continues to believe in the work we are doing together.

Thank you for the confidence you continue to show in our government.

Thank you for your partnership.

Partnership and the love we share for Orlando, our City Beautiful, can take us anywhere we want to go!

We are excited to continue that journey, together!

Thank you everyone.

God bless America.

And, God bless Orlando.