By BJ Austin
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-955082.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Dallas "Mayor" Dwaine Caraway is getting used to that new title. He took the top spot over the weekend, with the resignation of Mayor Tom Leppert on Friday. KERA's BJ Austin reports on Caraway's first work-day in office.
Dwaine Caraway is no stranger to public appearances on behalf of the city. But this one was a little different - his first "public introduction" as Mayor of the city of Dallas:
Intro: We have our Mayor, Dwaine Caraway, with us this afternoon and we'd like to ask him to come up and make a few remarks.
Caraway took the podium at a City Hall Black History Month event. Mayor Caraway says he will not shake things up during his brief tenure as Mayor, and will concentrate on three basic areas.
Caraway: Try to keep our citizens safe. Try to figure out ways to cut. Try to make sure that the state don't cut us as much as we're afraid that it possible could be.
To that end, the Mayor is leading a Dallas delegation in Austin tomorrow. They'll be lobbying lawmakers NOT to balance the state budget on the backs of cities.
Caraway says he will also spend time this week meeting with each of his council colleagues.
Caraway: To make sure everybody understands we are all still on the same page.
Council member Linda Koop does not expect any blips in city government with Caraway at the helm.
Koop: We're to the point as a council, we're a matured council now and we have a path to take for the next three to four months.
Caraway came under intense criticism recently for giving a key to the city to NFL quarterback Michael Vick - convicted in a high profile case of illegal dog fighting. There were some calls from the public for Caraway to step down as Mayor Pro Tem. Caraway say he's moved past those critics and is feeling good about the job ahead.
Caraway: Great! We're focused, taking care of the business.