Knoxville City Councilman Daniel Brown made history today when he was selected interim mayor – becoming Knoxville’s first black mayor.

He succeeds outgoing Mayor Bill Haslam, who resigned his position at 9:32 a.m. to become governor. He will be inaugurated on Saturday, Jan. 15.

“My challenge will be to serve in the best way possible for all the citizens of Knoxville,” Brown said after he was sworn into office. “I thank my colleagues whether they voted for me or not.”

He noted that being the city’s first black mayor was of special significant with the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday coming up.

Brown was one of five candidates vying for the position. All declared before the voting began that they would serve as a temporary mayor until Dec. 17, when the next elected mayor is sworn in, and that they would not run for office.

Brown, a native Knoxvillian and graduate of Austin High school and Tennessee State University, is retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He’s also a Vietnam War veteran.

Found on KnoxNews