ST. LOUIS – It was a quick turnaround for Cara Spencer. The former alderwoman won the St. Louis City mayoral election on April 8.

Exactly one week later, she was sworn into office.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Spencer said, describing the past few weeks.

FOX 2 got an inside look at what a day looks like for the mayor, mom and long-time city resident.

“Whether it’s going to be a 7 to 7 day, which is 12 hours. Or if it’s 7 to 4, you go home, you go back and then you meet her at 8,” Beverly Isom, communications director, said. “She’s doing great. Is she wearing out the rest of us? Maybe.”

Weekday mornings start early as the mayor drops her son off at school.

“We usually kind of talk about the day, the week ahead and what we’re going to do over the weekend. It’s really important to me to have those few minutes.”

During the drive, her passion for the city came out in conversation as she drove past a brick building. And at various intersections, the topic of stoplights came up.

“It’s a really big investment to get the lights timed correctly—but they need to be,” she said.

It’s one of several initiatives for her platform, including improvements to city services, downtown business and public safety.

On most mornings, time permitting, Spencer gets in her exercise with a 15-mile ride.

She drove through Cherokee Street, a neighborhood she embraced as alderwoman—and still does, only now with a security detail. It’s been quite the adjustment for Spencer, as she went from the campaign trail to the election and inauguration all in a matter of days.

Early in this transition, she is focusing on building her new team. In the meantime, her voice is being heard—and in a big way.

The new mayor is eager to take on the work but still be true to herself.

“I am excited, and I’m very humbled to be able to serve our broader community in this way,” Spencer said.