"You took the needed action. You followed the democratic process and showed that this process works in this great country," he said of his election over two-term Democratic incumbent Susan J. Grelick.

In his first official action as town supervisor after State Supreme Court Justice Erin M. Peradotto administered the oath of office, the 70-year-old Mohan, a Republican, appointed newly elected Council Member Deborah Bruch Bucki, a Democrat, to the post of deputy town supervisor.

"It was not something I sought," Bucki said. "I was very surprised and honored."

But this was hardly the only symbol of the inclusive way Mohan plans to do business.

Clergy members of the Catholic, Hindu, Sikh, Islamic, Jewish and Protestant faiths shared the dais and offered prayers and blessings for a new day in town government.

Mohan thanked Town Board members who showed up for the ceremony, including Council Member William L. Kindel, whom the supervisor called "my friend."

But Kindel, it turned out, was not in the overflow crowd. Reached later at his home, Kindel said he was unable to attend because of a family commitment "I made a long time ago."

A controversy erupted involving charges of racism after Kindel, looking at Mohan during a board meeting two weeks ago, said, "This is how we do things in this country. We have laws in this country."

Mohan, a native of India and UB engineering professor, had wanted to address the board on labor contracts it was about to approve but was refused.

Kindel's words scolding Mohan and others took on a life of their own, but it ended in peace between the two men after Mohan invited Kindel to lunch at his East Amherst home last week.

Grelick also was absent from the swearing-in, which ended with Mohan saying he will need the help of citizens if he is to keep his campaign promises that included a reduction in taxes.

A day earlier, Saturday, Bucki and fellow Democrat Daniel J. Ward, a returning Amherst Town Board member, were sworn in at the Amherst Museum. The two ran on the same ticket and were among the three board winners in November. The third winner was Republican incumbent Shelly Schratz.

Meanwhile, Poloncarz said at his swearing-in: "I will be an independent comptroller, someone who will work cooperatively with the County Legislature, the county executive and Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority."

The 38-year-old Democrat added, "But when I see waste and inefficiency, I will not be afraid to use the bully pulpit of the county comptroller's office to inform the public."

A major goal, he said, is to strengthen the audit division of the comptroller's office that will operate in "an inspector-general style for better government."

Glowing with pride over a Democrat serving as comptroller, Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard R. Lenihan said Poloncarz is "the first Democratic comptroller since Henry Nowak left in 1974" to run for Congress.

Lenihan praised Poloncarz, saying: "What Mark represents is new leadership. He's never been on the public payroll or [in] public service before. He's a guy that's going to put the county first."

Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown also attended Poloncarz's swearing-in ceremony to wish him well.

"I just wanted to be here as he begins his new role of service and leadership," Brown said. "He's bright and talented, and I think he'll do a tremendous job."

Elsewhere Sunday, Republican Steven J. Walters took the oath of office as Hamburg town supervisor in Town Hall, where about 25 people gathered to witness the swearing-in ceremony.

e-mail: lmichel@buffnews.com