Mayor Pantelides Pledges to Make Annapolis 'Athens of the East'

Newly elected Mayor Mike Pantelides was sworn into office Monday among a crowd of hundreds, including family, friends and local, state and international officials.

In his inaugural address, Pantelides pledged to combat drugs and violence in the city and expand local businesses and the job market. But to overcome these challenges, he said he would need unity from the city.

"The decisions I make will be guided by one principle: Putting Annapolis first," Pantelides said. 

Speaking before the inauguration, County Executive Laura Neuman said her office would work together with the city's for a new era of cooperation.

Pantelides said he would keep his door open one day a month, without appointment, for anyone to come and speak their mind to him. 

"We can have both economic prosperity and environmental sanctitude," he said, touching upon one of the key issues of the election.

In his address, Pantelides harkened back to Colonial times, saying the city's maritime resources needed to be reinvigorated.

"We have the resources, historical and cultural to make Annapolis again as it  was referred to in Colonial times, The Athens of the East," Pantelides said. 

Much of the inauguration event Monday at Maryland Hall took a note from Pantelides' Greek heritage.

The ambassador of Greece to the U.S., Christos P. Panagopoulos offered kind words for the new mayor, and said with his country soon to be at the head of the European Union's Council, he would work to ensure the name of Annapolis was heard.

Patch will provide additional updates on the Mayor's first week over the next few days. 

See also: Pantelides Names First Cabinet Appointments