Rye Welcomes Incoming Mayor French, Annual Message to Come Wednesday

Rye welcomed its new Mayor Douglas French and bid adieu to outgoing Mayor Steve Otis and his 12 years of service in an inauguration service on Rye City Hall steps Friday afternoon. The swearing in ceremony also included the induction of three new council members Peter Jovanovich, Richard Filippi and Suzanna Keith. Judge Peter Lane swore in Rye's new public servants. See MyRye.com's inaugural photo album.

Mayor French will emcee his first city council meeting this Wednesday, January 6th at 8pm and deliver the Mayor's Annual Message (Rye's equivalent of the State of the Union). See Mayor Otis' 2009 Annual Message.

French's remarks from Friday's ceremony follow:

January 1, 2010
City of Rye Mayoral and City Council Inauguration
Rye City Hall Steps

Remarks – Mayor, Douglas French

Thank you and thank you for being here today.  I am honored and humbled to be Rye’s next Mayor.

What makes it extra special for me is be up here with these two gentlemen, Judge Lane and Mayor Otis. 

Peter Lane was the first person I called 20 years ago to begin my public service career in Rye.  I don’t think either one of us envisioned that 20 years later he would be judge and would be swearing me in as Mayor. 

Judge Lane has served this City with great distinction for 17 years on the bench and it is an honor to have him here today.  By NY state statute, he is retiring today as Rye City judge.  Peter on behalf of the citizens of Rye, thank you.

And Mayor Otis.  Steve has served our City for 12 years with integrity and grace.  We will honor him and his accomplishments another day, but I want to congratulate him on his service and thank him from the City. 

I was very happy he offered to lead today’s ceremony.  That is what Steve Otis is all about.  That is what Rye is all about.  Steve, on behalf of the citizens of Rye, here is your Mayor’s gavel with your name and your term 1998 to 2009 engraved.

I also want to commend outgoing councilmen Andy Ball, Mack Cunningham and George Pratt for their leadership and public service to Rye.  Gentlemen, thank you.

And personally, I want to thank Carrie, my wife, who shares in this day and is as much a part of my becoming Mayor as I am.  Thank you, Carrie.

But today, we look ahead and begin the New Year and the new decade with a new council and a renewed sense of optimism.

And as we stand here today there is much to be proud of about our City:

• We share a rich heritage that ties our generations together

• We share a true sense of community where help thy neighbor is a reality here in Rye

• And we share an opportunity, an opportunity to make our City the leading community along the sound shore

So, on behalf of the incoming council, we greatly look forward to 2010 and serving the citizens of Rye. I will have more to say in my “State of the City” address Wednesday night, but thank you and Happy New Year.