John Whitmire is sworn in as Houston’s new mayor: Watch live

Watch the KHOU 11 live stream of the swearing-in ceremony

KHOU 11 is offering a live stream of the public swearing-in ceremony that begins at 9:30 a.m. You can watch the live stream below.

Whitmire expected to focus on public safety, infrastructure during swearing-in

State Sen. Carol Alvarado doesn’t expect Mayor John Whitmire to stray much from the script during his public swearing-in ceremony.

“Public safety will be at the very top,” Alvarado said as people milled in the lobby of the Wortham Center.

Alvarado said Whitmire will likely talk as he did during the campaign, focusing on adding police to the streets, greater focus on core infrastructure such as streets and drainage and promoting better relations with city workers.

“He’s going to make the average city worker feel appreciated and valued,” Alvarado said.

One specific she said will likely get attention is a contract for city firefighters.

Change, however, won’t happen overnight or on a deadline. Though presidencies are often judged early by their first 100 days, Alvarado said Whitmire won’t concern himself with an arbitrary deadline.

“I don’t think he’s going to try to immediately rush and do something,” she said. “He’s not going to do that, or talk about 100 days… I think y’all will, but it is not going to be something that is a part of his administration.”

Inauguration day in Houston: What you need to know

Houston City Hall is welcoming a new mayor, a new controller and six new City Council members during a public ceremony at 9:30 a.m. in the Wortham Center.

John Whitmire didn’t want to wait to begin his tenure as mayor — he was sworn in during a private ceremony with his family at City Hall just after midnight Monday.

Whitmire will be sworn in again with all other newly elected officials and incumbent council members.

Once the inauguration is over, the new elected officials will head straight to City Hall for their first meeting as the new council at 11 a.m.

After the meeting, City Hall doors will open at 2 p.m. for anyone who wants to shake Whitmire’s hand and share issues they’re concerned about.

At 6:30 p.m., the city will hold an event outside George R. Brown Convention Center to thank city employees, firefighters and police officers for their service. The event, which concludes at 9:30 p.m., will feature live music and food trucks.

Different vibe at Wortham Center for inauguration day

Sugar Plum Plaza might be the best-guarded place in Houston right now.

In advance of this morning’s city swearing in ceremonies at the Wortham Center, Houston Police have cleared a perimeter around the theater center from Texas Avenue to Preston Street, as attendees begin their arrival. Mounted police are at the primary entrance on Texas.

It’s a different vibe than the Wortham’s normal Christmastime cheer, though the nutcracker and wreath remain.

Judge Victor Trevino III conducted the ceremony, and Whitmire took his oath on his mother’s prayer book and Bible, held by his daughters Whitney and Sarah Whitmire.

“We worked hard for two years to explain our vision for the city of Houston and it’s to have total transparency, to share with Houston what I see as a mayor,” Whitmire said following his oath. “We have a great city, great people and we need to do everything we can to see that Houston goes forward and even becomes greater.”

Whitmire will take a public oath with the incoming controller and new and incumbent council members in a ceremony Tuesday at the Wortham Center.