Mike Rawlings attends a Super Bowl event on February 3, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Audi)

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - Dallas has a new mayor.

Former Pizza Hut CEO Mike Rawlings was sworn in Monday morning in a ceremony at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Rawlings defeated former Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle in a runoff election on June 18.

After taking the oath of office Rawlings said he’s, “always found great success in building the right team for each challenge and making sure they are invested in success.”

The Dallas mayoral election was low-key, civil and focused on the issues. And that is what voters can expect once Rawlings takes office. Rawlings has said that his priorities for the city will center around growth, opportunity and forging relationships intended to improve the often-divided Dallas City Council and the troubled public school system. Rawlings also wants to stimulate growth in south Dallas and work on completing some of the city’s larger on-going initiatives — like the Trinity River Project.

Rawlings plans to spend the month of July — when the Dallas City Council is on a month-long break — to study and prepare to get to work when the council members return.

Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway became interim mayor in February when Tom Leppert stepped down to run for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is not seeking another term in 2012.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)