City Council Republicans Take Oath of Office

New York, NY —

Mayor Michael Bloomberg administered the oath of office this morning to the City Council's five Republicans. They don't take office until January 1 but asked the mayor for the purely ceremonial gesture.

Bloomberg, a former Republican who calls himself a non-partisan Independent, says he happily obliged.

In the November elections, Republicans increased their ranks in the City Council from three to five. But with 46 Democrats, the GOP continues to have relatively little clout.

Three of the Republican Council members are from Queens, two are from Staten Island.