SOUTH OGDEN?George Garwood Jr. has taken his oath of office as mayor of South Ogden, thus becoming Utah’s first black mayor.

“He’s always been a politician. He’s outgoing and mingles with anyone on the block,” Garwood’s brother Steven said during the ceremony.

He said the first item on his agenda will be to ask the council to move the fire department under his jurisdiction.

“In light of what happened on Sept. 11, I think public safety is a huge concern with the public. My job is to keep the peace and to be in charge of emergency management, so I think it’s fitting that I oversee the fire department as well as the police department,” he said.