Kasim Reed takes office as Atlanta’s 59th mayor

ATLANTA (AP) _ Former Georgia state Sen. Kasim Reed was sworn in as Atlanta's new mayor on Monday after a runoff victory last month.

Reed overcame low numbers in early polls to be elected the city's 59th mayor. Reed replaces two-term Mayor Shirley Franklin, who had to step down because of term limits.

Reed beat City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who would have been the mostly black city's first white mayor in a generation.

Reed said his first priority will be to find money to hire more police officers. He said his administration also will crack down on aggressive panhandling.

The mayor's office is a nonpartisan post, so neither candidate declared a party in the race.

Pictured above is Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.