Keisha Lance Bottoms sworn in as Atlanta’s 60th mayor

ATLANTA — There’s a new mayor in town.

Keisha Lance Bottoms was sworn in today as the 60th mayor of Atlanta. Bottoms defeated Mary Norwood in a hotly contested runoff in December.

Bottoms trailed an initially crowded field led by Norwood for much of the race leaving up to November’s election, polls suggested, but surged after receiving the endorsement of previous Mayor Kasim Reed. Reed served two terms in office and could not seek re-election.

“My prayer is that we continue to work together for what is right because there is real work to be done and that work begins today,” WSB-TV quoted Bottoms as saying in her inaugural address.

Bottoms is the second woman elected as mayor in Atlanta. Shirley Franklin, the first, was in office from 2002 until 2010.