Kevin de Leon inaugurated as leader of California Senate; 1st Latino since 1883

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A crowd of more than 2,000 packed the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wednesday to watch the inauguration of Kevin de Leon as state Senate president pro tempore.

De Leon is the first Latino to hold the post since 1883.

"I am here today because of my mother," De Leon said. His mother served as a janitor as he grew up.

"My story should not be an exception. My story should be the rule," he said.

Past Senate leaders were always sworn in at the Capitol in low-key affairs. The Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation is picking up the $50,000 tab for the unprecedented party.

De Leon told Eyewitness News that it's not costing taxpayers a dime.

"We wanted to democratize it, make it more open," he said.

Still, there are some that say the party was a little much - especially considering what's happened in California politics recently.

In the last year, three Senate democrats faced serious ethical questions.

"From the taxpayers' perspective, we'd like to see law makers spending less time on self-aggrandizement and more time on serving the public," the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said in a statement.

However, most attending the free event said it was worth it.

"His intent was to be able to include everybody who would normally not have the opportunity to join him in Sacramento," said Jose Mejia with the California Association of Laborers.