Ledger sworn in as Morrisville mayor.
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
More than two dozen supporters crammed into a Morrisville courtroom to witness the "historic" swearing-in ceremony.
Morrisville Councilwoman Rita Ledger on Sunday was sworn in as Mayor Rita Ledger, the first woman to have that title in the borough's history.
Inside District Judge Michael Burns' Morrisville courtroom, Ledger, a Democrat, was joined by more than two dozen supporters, friends and family members for a swearing-in ceremony Sunday night. But according to a provision in the Pennsylvania Borough Code, she actually becomes mayor today - the first Monday of the new year.
With her 25-year-old son Mark Ledger standing by her side, the former councilwoman placed her left hand on the Bible her son was holding and raised her right hand in the air while she said her oath of office.
"I look forward to serving the borough of Morrisville as the first woman mayor," Ledger told her supporters. "I realize I am a marked woman because I am the first woman mayor."
Ledger then reiterated her priorities, saying she wants to see redevelopment in the borough's downtown business district along Bridge Street and to "move Morrisville into the 21st century" by utilizing alternative energy sources and using more energy efficient vehicles.
Jane Burger, a Republican whose 17 years on council came to an end last week, called Sunday a "historic moment."
"This just shows the support that this community has for Rita Ledger, our mayor," she said.
After all, Ledger lost her party's nomination in the primary election in May to fellow Democrat Patricia A. Schell. But with dozens of write-in votes by Republican voters, Ledger appeared on the November ballot under the GOP ticket.
Ledger then bested Schell by more than 200 votes and will replace Thomas Wisnosky as mayor. Wisnosky served as mayor for eight years but didn't seek re-election last year.
Ledger served as a Ward 1 councilwoman for four years. Before that, she sat on the Morrisville Zoning Hearing Board. Like other Pennsylvania boroughs, Morrisville has a weak mayor's office. Among its duties, the mayor supervises the police department and can also administer oaths and affirmations, declare states of emergency, break tied votes among borough council and veto council legislation.
