History Attends a Political Rite

In the final days of his mayoral campaign, James K. Hahn criticized the mixing of emotion and politics.

“You don’t get emotional in politics,” he said the weekend before the June 5 runoff election against Antonio Villaraigosa.

But on Saturday morning, as the incoming mayor administered the oath of office to his sister, Councilwoman Janice Hahn, emotion was unavoidable.

“I am very proud of my sister,” he said before escorting the new 15th District councilwoman through a crowd of hundreds of supporters at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro. The two are the children of the late Kenneth Hahn, who served Los Angeles from 1947 to 1992 as a councilman and county supervisor.

In a break with tradition, Janice Hahn held the local inaugural ceremony before the official ceremony at City Hall on Monday.

The event marked what many believe to be a historic occasion for both the district and for Los Angeles. Other than Maribel De La Torre and Cindy Montanez, sisters who serve as San Fernando city councilwomen, the Hahns are believed to be the only other siblings simultaneously serving on a city council in county history.

“I think it is truly history in the making,” said Gwen Butterfield, close friend and campaign volunteer for Janice Hahn. “She’s so excited . . . to have her brother swearing her in.”

The sibling connection was apparent as the two sat side by side whispering and laughing. But even their historic day was not without some typical sibling drama.

“Where’s Mom? Did you pick up Mom?” said James Hahn to his sister minutes before the ceremony began.

“I picked up Mom! She’s already in her seat!” Janice Hahn replied.

With the city’s 25-year-old Korean bell as a backdrop, the two took their places among family members and elected officials and basked in the good fortune of being born into a family with a history of public service.

“It is a glorious day to be a Hahn,” said Georgia Rosenberry, speaking for the San Pedro community where the siblings reside.

“I’m proud of you,” James Hahn said to his sister, “and someone who is here in spirit, Dad, would have been really proud of you today.”

The councilwoman-elect took the oath with her hand on the family Bible. She then received a kiss from her a brother. As a 21-gun salute ended, she launched into her inaugural speech.

In the speech, she reinforced her commitment to community-based policing and education, as well as her devotion to public service.

“As I think of the teamwork required to achieve our goals, I am reminded of my father . . . who taught me that serving the public is like extending your family,” she said. “I believe that he knew this would be the destiny of his children.”