Burke and Garcetti Take Office : Politics: She is first African-American elected to Board of Supervisors and pledges to build ‘a new Los Angeles.’ He takes over as district attorney.

Three county supervisors, including the first African-American elected to the board, and a new district attorney were sworn into office Monday in what all agreed is one of the most troubled and challenging eras in Los Angeles County history.

Just eight months after racial tension erupted into one of the most costly civil disturbances ever, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke was sworn in as the first African-American elected to the Board of Supervisors and dedicated herself to “building a new Los Angeles.”

“My campaign began the quest of bringing people together,” Burke told about 800 supporters who overflowed the Board of Supervisors’ meeting room. “Now is the time to move forward,” she said, adding that her first order of business will be to introduce a proposal at the board meeting today to establish a task force to find ways to create more jobs.

Burke joined Supervisors Mike Antonovich and Deane Dana, who were both sworn in for fourth terms.

All three supervisors paid homage to retiring Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and pledged to carry on his commitment to public service. And all three dedicated themselves to reviving the flagging Los Angeles economy.

Gil Garcetti, a longtime prosecutor with the district attorney’s office, was sworn in as the new head of the department in an emotional ceremony in which he had to pause on several occasions to compose himself.

“Bear with me here,” a choked-up Garcetti asked the standing-room-only crowd as he dedicated himself to fighting violent crime and recounted how his 82-year-old father had been robbed three times.

“I want to do something about that,” Garcetti said. “I want every judge, every chief of police to know about that commitment.”

The new district attorney also placed prosecution of domestic violence, hate crimes, insurance fraud and political corruption at the top of his list of priorities.

Burke, 60, a former congresswoman, is no stranger to the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. She was appointed to the board in 1979, but served only 18 months before losing election to Dana.

Burke succeeds Hahn, who retired after 40 years in office. He did not attend the ceremony because of illness.

Referring to her narrow victory in the 2nd District race, Burke thanked her supporters. “Needless to say, each one of you made a difference.” State Sen. Diane Watson, who lost to Burke, is considering filing a lawsuit to challenge the election, alleging that voting irregularities occurred.

Burke, who campaigned on a platform of seeking to cut perks for top county officials, declined the offer of a new county car. She instead will drive a 1988 Buick used by Dana before the county bought him a new car.