Daughter sworn in to father's Chicago council seat

[July 25, 2013]  CHICAGO (AP) -- The daughter of a longtime Chicago alderman has been sworn in as a City Council member, hours after Mayor Rahm Emanuel named her as a replacement for her father.

Illinois State Rep. Deborah Mell was sworn in Wednesday to the seat that her father, Dick Mell, held for nearly 40 years.

The Democrat pushed for his daughter's selection, despite criticism that her appointment could be seen as nepotism.

Before she was sworn in, one alderman criticized the appointment by Emanuel, saying the city "was not a monarchy."

Deborah Mell acknowledged her critics. But says she's excited to get to work and has much to prove.

She is the first open lesbian on the council and the sister-in-law of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who's in jail for corruption.

[Associated Press]

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