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'So please remember I'm still Carol': Jeffersontown swears in first woman mayor

Mayor-elect Carol Pike was sworn in Thursday evening as the city's new mayor. She will take over for outgoing Mayor Bill Dieruf, who served 12 years.

JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. — The city of Jeffersontown made history Thursday.

Carol Pike was sworn in as the city's new mayor with her family by her side, making her the first woman to hold that office. 

"I pledge to you that I will do my absolute best to represent you, hear you, work with and for you," Pike said during her inauguration. 

After a heartfelt speech, Pike sang along to some of her favorite songs. Then she got down to business explaining her plans once she takes office.

"I want to look over all the projects we have going on right now," she said." I want to see how long they're for and what the contracts are for. I want to meet with my attorney and I want to meet with my police chief day one."

Pike is no stranger to getting things done. She served on the city council for the past 40 years. She credits her success to her daughter Kim Wisman, who watched her in admiration from the audience. 

 "She has always taught me and raised me to be an independent woman. And to see the lead that she has and the example she has provided me just shows if you set your mind to it, the world is at your fingers," Wisman said." So it's been exciting, exhausting, but here we are celebrating the long campaign we were able to achieve."

Kim says she's looking forward to watching the woman she calls mother continue to take on more roles, while always remembering where she started.

"I'm just Carol. Nothing has changed. My drive for community is still the same. My hopes and dreams of who we can become collectively is still the same. So please remember I'm still Carol. A woman who's a mother, a grandmother, a sister, and a business owner, and a citizen just like you who just wants to make a difference for the good of us all. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, it's an honor," Pike said. 

Pike will step into her new role as Jeffersontown's mayor on Jan. 1. 

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