Heather Graham sworn in as Pueblo's new mayor. Here's what she seeks to accomplish

Heather Graham became Pueblo’s second mayor in recent history when she was sworn in Thursday afternoon, just after the mayoral runoff election was certified.

Addressing more than 100 supporters, city staff and local officials on a sunny day outside Pueblo City Hall, Graham vowed to collaborate with others, lead with transparency, and address public safety as her top priority.

“It is an honor to serve you as mayor and it is a role that I will take very seriously. Together, today, we build a city that is inclusive, innovative (and) resilient. We are Pueblo and we will work hard to make us all proud,” Graham said.

Addressing public safety among Graham's top priorities

Public safety was one of Graham’s top priorities on the campaign trail and hiring new police officers is going to be a top priority.

Graham said that she will be appointing Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller as her deputy mayor, pending confirmation from city council.

Graham mentioned that an operation at the Rodeway Inn, a motel on U.S. Highway 50, was initiated Thursday morning “to improve the quality of life, businesses and safety in the area.”

Pueblo Police Department spokesperson Frank Ortega confirmed with local media that the multi-agency operation had been in the works for weeks. City spokesperson Haley Sue Robinson said that Graham had been helping with the planning of the operation when she was still city council president.

“I’m incredibly proud for this to take place as my first day of mayor,” Graham said.

Graham told the Chieftain before her inauguration that the Pueblo PD has approximately 60 vacancies, and it’s important for her to try to get those positions filled. Lowering standards for hiring officers is not on the table, but one initiative that is expected to come before city council soon as an ordinance would increase Pueblo's ability to hire trained officers from other cities.

Helping homeless people in Pueblo is also a priority for Graham. She said that can be accomplished by working with “housing providers, social services, and community groups.”

How Graham plans to work with others

City Council President Mark Aliff, who was selected among councilors to replace Graham at the helm of council after her two-year tenure, hyped up the crowd before Graham took the stage.

Aliff said that the balmy winter weather, which was over 60 degrees and sunny, showed that “optimism exudes even out of nature.”

Aliff recalled how Graham mobilized people three years ago to protest COVID-19 restrictions that affected local small businesses in front of Memorial Hall.

“I believe, even though Heather will probably argue with me, I believe it was right here at this spot at that time that the true leader for Pueblo was born,” Aliff said. “I stood beside her while the leaders of our city government ignored and ridiculed Heather and the business community's plea for relief. I'm so glad and so thankful that Heather stuck to her guns, and not only became the leader that she is, but became the mayor and the leader of our city.”

Graham also thanked Aliff for mentoring her over the past few years, adding that “I look forward to working with city council in a different capacity to get things done.”

She said that she’s committed to working with city council, county commissioners and other leaders in Pueblo to help the city.

“The journey ahead of us is to be cleaner, safer, and will not always be easy. The solutions to our problems will not be solved overnight. It will take all of us working together to make Pueblo thrive, but I know that working collaboratively, we can make a significant difference,” Graham said.

Graham also wants to work with members of the public: she said she is starting an initiative to speak with at least 100 Puebloans within her first 100 days in office.

She said that Gradisar hasn’t been around much to help orient her to the new job — he also wasn’t at the inauguration — but that city staff have been helpful to her.

‘This isn’t about me’: Being a young female leader in Pueblo

Graham told the Chieftain before her inauguration that she initially wanted a small ceremony to start the job with minimal invitees just outside the city clerk’s office, but people kept telling her that it was “monumental” that a young woman had been elected to lead the city.

That didn’t sink in until two middle school girls approached her at the Faces of CF&I fundraiser on Saturday evening and asked to take a picture with her. Graham recalled how they were “ecstatic” to take a picture with her because they could look up to her.

“Then it was like, this isn't about me. This is about people like the two little girls and the people of Pueblo who are essentially putting their trust in me,” Graham recalled.

Ty Trujillo, 11, was one of the two girls who approached Graham to snap a photo with her mini Polaroid camera. She got to get out of school to see Pueblo’s first female mayor take her oath of office.

Ty said that Graham’s win has inspired her to run for Pueblo mayor when she’s older.

“I was so excited to see her get sworn in. It was so surreal to see a woman up there,” Ty said.

Chieftain reporter Justin Reutter contributed reporting.

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics at the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Here's what Heather Graham hopes to accomplish as Pueblo's new mayor