There is a lot of empty talk this week about which of the newly-elected Freshman Legislators are going to “change Sacramento.”

But there’s one man who actually can. 

And will.

That is Kevin Johnson.

K.J. NBA Star. Businessman. Friend of Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson. The newly-elected, first-ever African American to be elected Mayor of Sacramento. A man I am proud to call “Mr. Mayor.”

First things first: It’s very difficult for me to compliment Steve Maviglio. It pains me. That, and because frankly there’s almost nothing to compliment him on (just kidding, Steve…). But Team K.J. brought their "A" game.  They got it done on the Campaign Trail, and slam-dunked it last night with a well-played Inauguration Ceremony that topped even some Statewide Inaugurations I’ve witnessed.

I was both “moved” and “inspired.”

I was “moved” by Kevin Johnson’s laser-precise understanding of the problems that plague Sacramento: crime, gangs, street vandalism, severe lack of funding for Police and Fire, the closing of critical Fire Stations in Sacramento, financial mismanagement that borders on the criminal, and a town which has turned into a crime-infested dump under the Heather Fargo administration.  To be sure, the clarity with which Kevin Johnson understood the challenges facing his new Constituents is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

I was “inspired” by Kevin Johnson's being a man of action.  Strong.  Clear.  Decisive.  This is a man who “gets it”, has a vision, and knows exactly how to get there. He spoke of the emergency meeting he called at 7:30 a.m. the morning after a victorious yet late Election Night.  A meeting that one of his campaign members equated to a Coach calling a 7:30 a.m. practice the morning after winning the NBA Championship.  But it was clear that the man was ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work.

And work he has, even before taking the Oath of Office.

Just days after the Election, the City’s holiday spirit was dampened when outgoing Grinch, pardon me, I mean Mayor, Heather Fargo canceled the City’s Annual Christmas Parade (uh, isn’t that like canceling Christmas? Since you didn't vote for me, Christmas is cancelled. That about sums up the leadership of the last four years.) But cooler heads prevailed.  Decisively, Kevin Johnson stepped up to contribute what was left over in his own Campaign account to fund the Christmas parade for the entire city of Sacramento. The show will go on.

Days later (and again, before he was even sworn in) he was in Natomas with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, personally handing out turkeys to needy families for Thanksgiving in one of the worst economic downturns this State has seen in decades.

And last night, during his Inaugural Speech, Kevin Johnson outlined very clearly, very specifically, what his Priorities are in the first 60 days.  Not 90, not 100 days.  60 days.  This man is getting to work.

His Speech is posted in its entirety below, so I won’t bore you with my recitation…but a few key priorities from this Democrat struck a chord with me as a businesswoman, a republican, and a concerned citizen:

- The urgent need to lead by example with a spirit of Civic Responsibility, now more than ever. The City depends upon it.

- The Redevelopment and Revitalization of downtown’s K Street corridor to rival Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and other grand cities

- The Development of Sacramento’s riverway to rival San Antonio

- Construction of a new Sports Arena and a new competitive commercial district

- Turning Sacramento into a world-class city that California can be proud of

Of the People, he asked:

- Business Leaders: that every Business Owner offer Internships to students in order to fulfill a dream, provide valuable experience, and directly invest in our youth

- Students: that every Student complete 100 hours of Community Service before High School Graduation

- Labor Unions: that they mobilize their workforce and serve in Soup Kitchens this Holiday season

- And he asked every single Sacramentan to engage in a “Culture of Service and Civic Engagement”

With newly elected Mayor Kevin Johnson at the helm, I have no doubt that the ranks will rise to the challenges. I see innovation arriving on the wings of this change. I see new and interesting Task Forces being formed, enabling a free-flow of unprecedented connections between Business and Philanthropy, the Rich and the Poor, the Young and the Old. I see people stepping out of the shadows to put the shine back on the City. I myself have hope once again for a City that had become so tarnished, so worn, so dangerous after dark that a woman can't even walk on a downtown street after dark.  I believe for the first time that this town will not simply be a place where we come, if only for a time, to work in the Capitol.  But that it’s a place we could actually call “Home.”

As the confetti fell from the rafters and the fireworks concluded the evening’s festivities, I paused for a moment and thought to myself, “Wow.” As I watched happy people dance in the aisles, I dared to steal a line from Michelle Obama: “For the first time in my life, I’m proud to be in Sacramento.”