Congratulations to Mayor White, Annise Parker, and all our City Council members who were sworn in this very chilly morning. I'm glad I braved the cold to see some of my favorite public servants all on one stage together.

After all the pomp and circumstance, including an appearance by former Mayor Hofheinz and an invocation by Cardinal DiNardo, the Mayor and Controller and Council members took their oaths. The Houston Grand Opera performed a piece, then the Mayor gave his address. He hit on Houston's recent growth and public service, two of his usual themes. He gave us lots of Houston success stories, mostly about immigrants and refugees who found not only a home, but unparalleled opportunity in our city. He talked about what a model Houston is in so many ways, and the importance of nonpartisanship in city government. I was excited when he touched on how much can be done in two (or four or six) years, and he mentioned that term limits don't keep the city from getting things done, despite what some people say.

The setting for the inauguration was incredibly appropriate, especially paired with the Mayor's address. The inauguration was held at Discovery Green, our soon-to-be-completed downtown park, and the backdrop for the ceremony was all cranes and construction. Discovery Green is a good example of how quickly a project can be conceived, constructed, and completed - all of that is happening in under two years, as Mayor White pointed out. The feeling of being in the middle of something fresh and exciting was also appropriate for a city whose image has changed recently and is still changing. Like the Mayor said in his speech, Houston is "movin' on up," and while I think we already have a lot to be proud of here, there's also a lot going on right now that will hopefully improve not just the city's image, but also quality of life for Houstonians.

The event ended with a prayer and performances of two rocking songs - "You Raise Me Up" and "Love Will Save the Day." The last one was especially fitting, because what I admire most about the people who were sworn in today is their love for Houston and their dedication to serving Houstonians and making this city a wonderful place to live.

UPDATE: More from NewsWatch and from Miya, who notes a last-minute Mayor Pro Tem switcheroo.

UPDATE: The Professors were there as well.