Jim Payne was sworn in as mayor of Superior during the April 18 meeting of the Superior Common Council and pledged to “spend every day working to make this city the place we all know that it can be.” Payne thanked his family and campaign supporters and urged the council and residents to work together on housing, jobs and public-safety challenges.

Payne said Superior’s housing stock is aging and “failing to meet the needs of a changing population,” and called for policies to “make it easier to build, restore, and own houses” while preserving neighborhood character. He noted roughly one-fifth of the city’s population lives in poverty and said the city should prioritize stabilizing families and incentivizing homeownership.

On the drug epidemic, Payne said the problem “cannot wait for the state of Wisconsin or any other outside institution” and called for local partnerships with health-care providers to create a “lifeline to recovery.” He also urged investment in downtown development and alternatives to car travel, saying the city should build “pathways for every citizen from student to senior to move slowly and safely through our community.”

Payne closed by asking citizens to stay engaged with city government; the council’s regular meeting schedule was noted, and the meeting then proceeded to recognize departing and returning councilors.