White Plains, NY — Terry Clements (D-New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor), was sworn-in as the new Westchester County Legislator for the 11th District on Monday night.

The oath of office was administered by Judge Kathie Davidson, administrative judge of New York State's Ninth Judicial District, at a ceremony preceding the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Clements becomes the 13th Democrat in the 17-member chamber.  She’s also the ninth woman, giving women a majority on the Board for the first time in its history. Westchester is the only current county legislature in New York with a female majority.  In addition she’s the Board’s fifth African American legislator, the greatest number of African American legislators in County history.

“This is an exciting night for all of us because we’re making history,” said Board Chairman Ben Boykin. “As the most diverse Board in County history -- we lead by example.  Not just by the example of who we are, but by the example of what we do.”  

Adding, “Let this Board, and all of Westchester, lead the nation by defining and defending the core values that make us who we are -- equity, fairness and faith that by working together we can make tomorrow better than today for all the people of Westchester.”

Clemens thanked her supporters.  

“We had an army out there,” she said of the work put into her campaign by labor, Hispanic Democrats of Westchester, Black Democrats of Westchester, the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, the Democratic committees of Pelham and New Rochelle, Indivisible New Rochelle and Young Democrats of Westchester.

She also thanked new State Senator Shelly Mayer for her support and vowed to focus on issues like safe schools and the environment.

“This may be an historic moment, but the most important thing is that we’re here to do the people’s work,” she said. “And there’s a lot of work to do.”

Clements defeated Republican Jim Freeman in a special election on April 24 to fill a seat vacated when former Legislator Jim Maisano, left to become director of the county's Department of Consumer Protection.