Vince Gray was sworn in as the District of Columbia's sixth elected mayor just before noon Sunday, and immediately returned to the theme he has been preaching since his victory in September's primary: unity.

 "Today, we begin a new chapter in the history of our city one defined by a sense of common purpose, shared sacrifice, and communities united," Gray said. "A chapter written not by a single author, but by the pens of 600,000 residents from all eight wards and all walks of life, committed to a vision of one city, our city."

Gray has promised to unite a city whose deep divide became apparent during the Democratic primary when wealthy, white residents strongly supported the re-election of Mayor Adrian Fenty. The city's poorer, black residents voted heavily for Gray.

Gray believes he can create "One City" by creating jobs for residents of the District's poorest areas, where unemployment has climbed as high as 30 percent.

In his inaugural addressm Gray invoked his inner John F. Kennedy in his message of collaberation and "collective community." Said Gray: "Now is the time for all District residents to make the sacrifices needed to weather the storm we face and to ask not what our city can do for you, but what can you do for your city."