SEATTLE (AP) -- Mike McGinn's young children administered the oath of office to Seattle's new mayor this week.
One of his first actions as mayor included telling city agencies to reduce the number of executive level employees, and he said all new consultant contracts must be reviewed by him.
The city's 52nd mayor also put a freeze on some salaries and has released salary figures for his new hires.
McGinn replaces Greg Nickels who served eight years and lost in the August primary.
McGinn is a former Sierra Club leader who defeated Joe Mallahan in the November election.
McGinn campaigned against the city and state plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel. He says he won't stand in the way, but he doesn't want the city to be stuck with any cost overruns on the project.
A former Seattle City Councilwoman has been appointed to replace new King County Executive Dow Constantine on the King County Council.
Appointed Monday, Jan Drago has said she will not run for re-election in November.
She will represent Council District 8, which stretches from Seattle's International District to Vashon and Maury islands.
County Councilman Larry Phillips says Drago's knowledge of regional issues is a big plus.
Tim Leavitt has been sworn in as the new mayor of Vancouver, Wash.
The former city councilman defeated incumbent Mayor Royce Pollard last November.
A civil engineer by trade and a lifelong Washington resident, Leavitt took the oath of office Monday night.
The new mayor says this "new chapter" for Vancouver comes during "a period of both mixed anxiety and optimism." He says he anticipates respectful, candid and constructive discourse in city government.