The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors made history Monday as Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger were sworn into office, marking the first time that four of the board’s five members are women.

Hahn, representing the Fourth Supervisorial District that stretches from Marina del Rey to the South Bay to Rowland Heights, previously served in the U.S. Congress and on the L.A. City Council.

Former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn administered the oath of office to his sister in the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, which was named after their late father who served on the Board of Supervisors for four decades.

“It has been my dream to be a County supervisor for as long as I can remember,” Janice Hahn said. “I saw firsthand what a difference my Dad made in people’s lives, how it motivated and inspired him. And while I will not be here for 40 years like my Dad, I will bring his same passion for service to this job every single day.”

Barger, the new Fifth District Supervisor, served for 15 years as chief deputy to former Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. She succeeds him in representing a district that spans large swathes of the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys and extends to Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley.

Barger began working for Antonovich as a college intern and said she’d learned many crucial lessons from the supervisor along the way.

“One thing I will never forget is that our constituents are our top priority,” Barger said. “They are our special interests, and their needs come first.”

Barger also anticipates effective collaboration among her fellow supervisors. “We should always focus on what binds us—our mutual efforts to provide quality services and programs to the people of Los Angeles County,” Barger said.

Prior to the packed ceremonies, incoming Board Chair Mark Ridley-Thomas, the only man currently serving on the panel, said he welcomed the opportunity to work with the board’s new female supermajority.

“I trust that it won’t be overlooked that this board is going to be very diverse,” he said. “There are four women, but women who are very different in their background and experiences.”

His remarks were echoed by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who noted: “The truth is we are raised with different experiences, and as women leaders we come with that whole different set of experiences.”

Added Supervisor Hilda L. Solis: “I really think it is going to be a major game changer for us. We’ll have our own unique talents and interests, but when we look at regional interests, we’ll be able to come together to meet the needs of the 10 million people we represent in L.A. County.”