In a historic inauguration day, the City Council elected its first Black woman as president Monday and a School Committee with a supermajority of women and people of color was sworn in. Whitfield received a standing ovation from a crowd that included at least five state legislators and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Speakers included family members, the city’s first Black police superintendent and the first Black woman school superintendent. They spoke of Whitfield’s integrity, courage, energy, accountability and willingness to listen.
