Tracy Whitfield was sworn in as president of the Springfield City Council on Jan. 5, 2026, at City Hall, a ceremony that city officials and community members called historic because she is the council’s first Black female president. Colleagues nominated and then confirmed Jose Delgado as vice president in voice and roll-call votes during the ceremony.

Whitfield told the chamber she would lead without rancor and with an emphasis on unity and training future leaders. “I’m not stepping into this role with division, not with separation, and not with grudges,” Whitfield said. She pledged to make the council accessible and community-centered and said she would work closely with the new vice president and councilors to ensure council presence across neighborhoods.

The new president announced four special committees she said would begin this term: a Fiscal Accountability and Budget Review committee led by Councilor Zeta Govan; a Revenue and Economic Growth committee led by Vice President Jose Delgado to pursue new revenue sources and local emerging-business opportunities; a Procurement Review and Transparency committee led by Councilor Malo Brown; and a Residential Development Coordination and Streamlining committee to be co-led by Councilor Justin Hurst and Whitfield herself to align departments and speed residential rehabilitation and construction.

“Presence is service,” Whitfield said when outlining her priorities, and she added she will launch a beginners training course for new and aspiring councilors in partnership with the city clerk, the law department and local university-affiliated centers to build a leadership pipeline.

The clerk opened nominations for vice president; Councilor Walsh nominated Jose Delgado and Councilor Govan seconded. After a voice/roll call in which councilors named Delgado, the clerk declared him elected vice president for the 2026 legislative year. Delgado spoke briefly after the vote: “I just want to thank my colleagues for your trust in me,” he said, adding he looked forward to working with the council and serving Springfield residents.

Before and after the formal votes, the ceremony included an invocation by Reverend Artu White, musical performances, and congratulatory remarks from local officials. The Springfield Police Department head, identified in the record as Larry Acres, congratulated Whitfield and said while police and politics should normally remain separate, he was there to support the new president and praised her leadership and commitment to accountability. Sonia Denal, superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, also offered congratulations.

Friends and family delivered personal tributes and readings, including a poem titled “More Than That” by Lynette Johnson. The meeting concluded with a closing benediction, a photo of councilors and a brief procedural drawing of council seating order; Whitfield then adjourned the meeting.

No ordinances, budget votes, contracts or other formal policy measures were acted on during the ceremony portion of the meeting; the formal actions recorded were the elections and oaths of council leadership.