At his swearing in yesterday, District 3 Council member Jeffrey Koch promised that he would… At his swearing in yesterday, District 3 Council member Jeffrey Koch promised that he would “continue with tireless effort to make neighborhoods safer and cleaner.”

“My commitment to the City of Pittsburgh and District 3 is wide ranging and long-term,” he said.

The ceremony was held in City Council Chambers in the City-County Building.

Koch – who was elected to office in a special election – received 1,449 votes on March 14 and will now fill the spot vacated by Gene Ricciardi.

Ricciardi left office to become a district judge.

Father Charles S. Bober, a pastor of St. Killian Parish, gave the invocation and benediction at the ceremony. Nancy Longo, a magisterial district judge, administered the oath of office.

City Council President Luke Ravenstahl presented Koch to the audience as a councilman for the first time. Mayor Bob O’Connor attended the event and praised Koch. O’Connor and Koch are both Democrats.

“This is a very good day for the people of District 3,” O’Connor said.

“If you are going to be successful, if you are going to run for public office, you better care about the people,” he added.

O’Connor also said that Koch cares about the people and “represents Pittsburgh and all the good things about it.”

Koch defeated seven challengers in the March 14 special election, including Republican Neal Andrus and Pitt student and Green Party candidate Jason Phillips. The mayor, the Pittsburgh Firefighters Union and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers endorsed Koch.

During the campaign, Koch said that he would not implement immediate changes to the district, but that he would first talk to residents.

District 3 includes Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Central Oakland, Knoxville, Mt. Oliver, South Side Flats, South Side Slopes and St. Clair.

Koch’s term will last through December 2007.