Portland swears in city’s new mayor

PORTLAND – Maine’s largest city has a new mayor.

Jill Duson took the oath of office Monday, becoming mayor of Portland for the second time in four years. When elected in 2004 by her fellow members of the City Council, she became the first African-American to hold the largely ceremonial post whose duties include presiding at council meetings.

Duson noted that the challenges facing the city during her one-year term include settling on a course of action for development of the Maine State Pier and putting together a budget at a time when the slumping economy is putting a dent in city revenues.