King makes history after being sworn in
Khrystian King, a first-generation American of Bermudian descent, has vowed to improve his Massachusetts community after being sworn in to public office.
On Tuesday, Mr King visited The Hanover Theatre in Worcester — New England’s second most populous city behind Boston — to begin his two-year tenure on its city council.
The social worker, who became the first black elected official in his Massachusetts home town for 80 years, swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States and received a key to City Hall.
He was then named chairman of the council’s Rules and Legislative Affairs Committee, and was also assigned to serve on the Youth, Parks and Recreation, Education, and Traffic and Parking Committee.
“It was a very proud moment, given that I’ll be able to bring some diversity to the city council,” he told The Royal Gazette.
“My intent is really to focus on youth initiatives and issues, as a way of shoring up public safety.
“We’ve had concerns with gang issues and juvenile delinquency here in Worcester, which is something I’m very interested in. I would really like to create a change.”
Mr King is the son of Leon A King I from Bailey’s Bay and June-Glorie Preece from Dock Hill Road, who married in a Seventh-day Adventist church in Southampton before moving to Massachusetts in the mid-1960s.
He was supported at the ceremony by family, including his eldest daughter Jailyn, his Pembroke-born brother Leon A King II as well as Bermudian relatives after capturing the seat in early November.
“I’m glad that we’re able to move Worcester towards having a more representative government, one which reflects the diversity of the communities that we serve,” said Mr King.
“I’m particularly enthused to bring City Hall to the neighbourhoods. I want to show that one person can make a difference.”
Following the event, his sibling Leon — a civil rights attorney in Philadelphia — said: “My brother is very experienced in ways that people in city council are not. He’s very honest and not afraid to speak up, and he brings with him a breath of fresh air.”
