The two newest members of the Phoenix City Council will be sworn in Monday: Kesha Hodge Washington and Kevin Robinson won their run-off elections last month.
Mayor Kate Gallego had endorsed both of the victorious candidates, and their wins are seen as victories for the mayor and her agenda.
Hodge Washington is the first Black woman to be elected to the governing body after defeating incumbent Carlos Garcia in a runoff election to represent District 8.
“It’s very humbling to consider the city has been in existence for 109 years and no one that has looked like me or shared my demographic has ever sat in a leadership position,” she said.
Speaking to PBS’ “Arizona Horizon,” Hodge Washington said the city needs to prioritize affordable and attainable housing to address the homeless crisis. She also said bad policing should be reduced and community trust must be rebuilt.
Claude Mattox is a former Phoenix City councilman who now works with the consulting firm Molera Alvarez. He joined The Show to explain how long it typically takes new councilmembers to get up to speed and how quickly the dynamics of the council could change.
