'Different being on this side.' Shameka Parrish-Wright sworn in to Louisville Metro Council

Longtime activist Shameka Parrish-Wright has a brand new title: Louisville Metro councilwoman.

The director of VOCAL-KY was sworn in as District 3's representative at City Hall on Monday, reciting her oath to "faithfully execute to the best of my ability the office of council person according to law and ordinance" – and of course, verifying that she has never been in a duel, a longstanding Kentucky requirement.

This means her work can officially begin.

"It's going to be different being on this side," she said, gesturing to the area where legislators and other officials sit during council meetings. "I've been on this side so many times for the last 20 years. And now to be on this side – it just ... I'm really taking it in."

Parrish-Wright is one of three people who won a council seat in the Nov. 7 special elections, and the only person of the three who wasn't already seated on the council. Councilman Ben Reno-Weber, who was appointed to the District 8 earlier this year, was sworn in alongside her. Councilman Phillip Baker, who has been serving in District 6, will be sworn in Monday evening.

Mayor Craig Greenberg and former state Rep. Attica Scott were in the audience, watching the ceremony.

"I wanted to support the new councilwoman," Greenberg said, adding that he looks forward to working with her and that it was a "good day here today."

Parrish-Wright has critiqued Greenberg – whom she ran against in the 2022 mayoral primary – but has also pledged to work alongside him in her new role. When she was elected Nov. 7, Greenberg sent her a message congratulating her, she said.

At VOCAL-KY, a grassroots organization, she worked to help low-income people impacted by HIV/AIDS, drugs, homelessness and mass incarceration.

As a councilwoman she hopes to make the Metro government more accessible and create a sense of unity with her fellow legislators, she told The Courier Journal election night.

"I am a connector," she said. "I want to lift up people and do what's right."

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Parrish-Wright is also passionate about environmental justice, reforming Louisville Metro Police and finding ways to make electricity more affordable, she said at a voter forum.

A public swearing-in ceremony for all three council members will be held on Nov. 30 at the regularly scheduled council meeting.

Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Shameka Parrish-Wright sworn in to Louisville Metro Council