Spiro Chiragaddas was sworn in as mayor of the city of Mobile and pledged to focus on strengthening public safety, expanding affordable housing, improving public transportation and investing in workforce development.

Chiragaddas thanked voters, his family and outgoing Mayor Sandy Stimpson, and said the role is "one of the greatest honors" of his life. "Serving as your mayor is not a responsibility I will take lightly," he said.

In his roughly 15-minute address, Chiragaddas framed his agenda around collaboration and unity, saying Mobile's diversity is a strength and promising to work with the Mobile Chamber, Visit Mobile, the Mobile Airport Authority and officials in Washington and Montgomery. He listed specific priorities: strengthening public safety so "every neighborhood is safe and feels secure," creating "affordable and desirable housing in every neighborhood," building a public transportation system people want to ride and investing in workforce development to prepare residents for incoming jobs.

Chiragaddas also acknowledged the work of city employees and said his administration would "work with the community to build a public transportation system that people want to ride." He closed by describing his hope that he would leave the city "stronger, more prosperous, and more united" when he passes the baton.

The ceremony included an invocation led by Reverend Doctor Titus Thorne and the national anthem performed by Red Hayes of Saint Dominic Catholic School. The oath of office was administered by the honorable Wesley Pipes.