Vidal Takes Over As Denver Mayor

DENVER (AP/CBS4) - Denver has its first foreign-born mayor now that deputy mayor Bill Vidal has taken over.

Vidal succeeds Democrat John Hickenlooper, who resigned to become Colorado's 42nd governor.

Vidal, the former deputy mayor and public works director, was formally sworn in Wednesday. He'll serve until a new mayor takes office in July. Several candidates are competing for the job in upcoming municipal elections.

Vidal was born in Cuba and was among 14,000 children sent out of the country after Fidel Castro's revolution.

"In spite of all our difficulties growing up together, this is true; (my parents) sacrificed everything they had for me and for my brothers to have a better life in the United States," Vidal said.

He talked about his past and urged tolerance for immigrants in his inaugural speech. Vidal also pledged to work on basics for the city, such as a new library and expanding a bicycle-sharing program.

Slideshow: Colorado Inauguration Day

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