GOVERNOR BREDESEN TAKES OATH OF OFFICE FOR SECOND TERM URGES TENNESSEANS TO DREAM BIG, BE BOLD
Nashville - With First Lady Andrea Conte at his side, Governor Phil Bredesen took the oath of office for a second term as Tennessee's 48th Governor today. The inauguration ceremony on War Memorial Plaza in front of the State Capitol was attended by members of the Tennessee General Assembly, Justices of the Tennessee Supreme Court, members of the Governor's Cabinet and staff, family and friends and a crowd of more than 2,000 Tennesseans.
After being sworn in, Bredesen delivered his second-term inaugural address. In a very personal and uplifting speech to Tennesseans, Bredesen promised to continue his leadership of the state "in a way that has proven successful already - to seek not conflict but common ground, to reach out and embrace good ideas from whatever quarter they come, and to be the Governor of all of the people of Tennessee."
During his 12-minute speech, Bredesen committed to keep education as Tennessee's number one priority.
"Hear me now: I am rolling up my sleeves. I want these next four years to be the time when we set Tennessee on the path of truly putting our children and their education at the head of the list," Bredesen said. "Lots of things are important: health care and jobs and social services, but education needs to head the list because it is the most important way government pulls its weight to make things a little better for the next generation. To do this, we are going to have to be bold ... but that has never been a problem for Tennesseans."
Bredesen concluded his speech with a request of all Tennesseans.
"Inaugurations are a milestone where we pause, where we recommit and renew our purpose. My fellow Tennesseans, I call on you today to join me in rededicating ourselves to big dreams for our children."
Following the inauguration ceremony, Bredesen swore in the 16 reappointed and 5 newly appointed members of his Cabinet. They include:
* Ken Givens, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture
* Viola Miller, Commissioner, Department of Children's Services
* Leslie Schecter Newman, Commissioner, Department of Commerce and Insurance - newly appointed
* George Little, Commissioner, Department of Correction
* Matt Kisber, Commissioner, Department of Economic and Community Development
* Lana Seivers, Commissioner, Department of Education
* Jim Fyke, Commissioner, Department of Environment and Conservation
* Dave Goetz, Commissioner, Department of Finance and Administration
* Greg Gonzalez, Commissioner, Department of Financial Institutions - newly appointed
* Gwendolyn Davis, Commissioner, Department of General Services
* Susan Cooper, Commissioner, Department of Health - newly appointed
* Gina Lodge, Commissioner, Department of Human Services
* James Neeley, Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce Development
* Virginia Trotter Betts, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities
* Gus Hargett, Adjutant General, Department of Military
* Deborah Story, Commissioner, Department of Personnel
* Reagan Farr, Commissioner, Department of Revenue - newly appointed
* David Mitchell, Commissioner, Department of Safety - newly appointed
* Susan Whitaker, Commissioner, Department of Tourist Development
* Gerald Nicely, Commissioner, Department of Transportation
* John Keys, Commissioner, Department of Veterans Affairs
The Governor will more thoroughly outline his plans for strengthening education, job creation, health care and environmental conservation efforts during his upcoming State of the State address next month.
The ceremonies will end today with two balls at the Wildhorse Saloon and B.B.King's House of Blues both on Second Avenue in Nashville. It is a honor to be associated with Governor Bredesen and his cabinet as he took his Oath of Office today as the 48th Governor of Tennessee.
The text from the Governor's speech, an audio recording of the speech and photos from today's ceremony can be found on Governor Bredesen's Web site at www.tennessee.gov/governor.