Mayor-elect in Newton, Mass. set for historic inauguration

NEWTON, Mass. (AP) - The city of Newton inaugurated the first African-American to be elected mayor in a popular vote in Massachusetts.

Setti Warren is scheduled to attend an Ecumenical prayer service at Boston College's Yawkey Center on Friday morning before he is installed at noon as Newton's first new chief executive in 12 years.

Warren, an Iraq war veteran and former aide to U.S. Sen. John Kerry, was voted into office in the affluent Boston suburb when he defeated state Rep. Ruth Balser.

He succeeds David Cohen, who chose not to seek re-election after three terms.

A spokeswoman says Warren is the first African-American to become a mayor in Massachusetts by popular vote.

Gov. Deval Patrick and Attorney General Martha Coakley, a U.S. Senate candidate, are scheduled to attend the historic inauguration.