Cockrel: 'Time to Move Forward' ANN ARBOR (Michigan Radio) -


Interim Detroit mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. today said it's time to move the city forward.

Cockrel was sworn into office this morning.

Cockrel was the president of the Detroit City Council, but was elevated to mayor by the resignation of Kwame Kilpatrick.

Cockrel says now is the time to address the problems that have gone unsolved while the former mayor's series of scandals distracted the city.

"From this moment on, the past is the past, we as a community, as a city, as a region, have to forward . And we're going to move forward," said Cockrel.

Cockrel's tenure as interim Detroit mayor may be short. A special election is set for early next year to elect a new mayor. Cockrel and Detroit businessman Dave Bing have both said they plan to run in the special election. © Copyright 2009, Michigan Radio