Samuel Dale Brownback was sworn in today as Kansas’ 46th governor.
The ceremony, originally scheduled to be outside on the south steps of the Statehouse, was moved indoors to the House Chamber due to the snow that blanketed most of the state and continued to fall throughout the day in Topeka.
Brownback, a 54-year-old Republican, who left the U.S. Senate after two terms succeeds Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson, who did not seek election and has taken a job in Washington, D.C. heading a trade association for nursing homes.
Brownback in his opening remarks praised Parkinson for making the transition between administrations, “seamless.”
For his swearing in, Brownback raised his right hand and placed his left on a Bible with his wife and five children clustered around him on the House dais. He was given the oath of office by Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss.
Brownback then gave a speech, citing hope, freedom and opportunity as the, “cornerstones in the Kansas Foundation,” and quoted former Gov. Arthur Capper:
“Let us do our part, be it large or small, in making the world a little cleaner, a little more decent, a little happier, a little more God-like,” he said.
He also said, “the threats we face today are primarily internal – not foreign tyranny or conquest, but excesses of cynicism, selfishness and despair.”
He made passing reference to the state’s recent economic troubles.
“Our challenges should be well known to us,” he said, “nearly 100,000 of our people actively seeking employment and cannot find it. Our public finances strain under the weight of commitments beyond our present means. Our families and social fabric fray against the crassness of modernity.”
Details of the new governor’s proposed budget for fiscal 2012 are expected to be presented to the Legislature later this week.
Various dignitaries were in the audience including former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who earlier served in the U.S. Senate with Brownback.
Also attending were former Gov. Bill Graves, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan, and Kansas Congresspersons Lynn Jenkins and Kevin Yoder, also Republicans. Jenkins represents the 2nd District; Yoder represents the 3rd District.
Steve Ortiz, chairman of the Praire Band Potawatomi Tribe, presented Brownback with a colorful, gift blanket. Four Native American men gave a rousing chant accompanied by the rhythmic beating of three tom-toms.
The Rev. Cecil Washington of the New Beginning Baptist Church in Topeka sang the Star Spangled Banner. Ben Bauman, anchorman for KTKA-TV in Topeka served as master of ceremonies.
The pomp included honor guards from Kansas National Guard and the Kansas Highway Patrol. Howitzers were fired on the Statehouse lawn and a military band played the state anthem, “Home on the Range.”
The halls of the Statehouse thronged with hundreds of people who attended open house celebrations held by Brownback and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer.
Brownback held his first cabinet meeting at 2 p.m. The first 10 minutes of the meeting were open to the media for photographs.