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“This is awesome!” exclaimed new Councilmember Elaine Paul Schaefer after she took the oath of office. She called this is an incredible moment, as Democrats take unanimous control of Delaware County Council for the first time ever.
“In this incredible moment, we have this rare and sublime opportunity to recreate and re-imagine a government,” she said.
Schafer said they plan to put politics aside and get everyone involved.
“Everyone from every corner,” she added, “because that is how democracy works best, when the whole community participates. And that’s what we are striving for.”
Fellow incoming Councilmember Christine Reuther said the election brought Democrats together, and that unity will be crucial moving forward.
“We’re going to face obstacles trying to change the culture in a courthouse that’s been run by one party for generations,” she said. They plan to “make sure government works better for all of the people in Delaware County, regardless of their party, the municipality they live in or who they know.”
Also sworn in was Monica Taylor — the first woman of color on County Council. As vice chair, she plans to hit the ground running “because our communities in poverty can’t wait, our unemployed can’t wait, and our prison population definitely can’t wait.”
“We have a challenging but exciting road ahead of us,” she continued, “but we have the opportunity to help families all across our county.”
Brian Zidek, who was named chairman, said turning County Council blue is humbling but “a little bit intimidating.”
“(We) want to make sure we don’t screw it up,” he said.