Kasich urged Ohioans to help him work as a team and move away from the status quo.
“We are not Republicans. We are not Democrats. We are not liberals and we are not conservatives,” said the 58-year-old Republican. “We are Ohioans. We are Buckeyes together.”
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor administered the oath of office shortly after noon to both Kasich and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor. Kasich used a Bible given to him by a friend after his parents were both killed by a drunken driver in 1987.
Kasich’s twin daughters, Emma and Reese, 10, and their fifth grade classmates led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Former Gov. Bob Taft, now a University of Dayton faculty member, said Kasich hit the right notes by calling on Ohioans to pull together during tough times. “I thought it was a super speech, very inspiring,” Taft said.
Kasich, son of postal workers in McKees Rock, Penn. and an Ohio State University graduate, said, he has never considered leaving Ohio, no matter how great opportunities afar seemed.
“I love Ohio. Ohio has given me all that I am today and now I can pay back Ohio and help lead us forward into realizing Ohio’s promise and our destiny,” Kasich said, referring to written notes but not using a teleprompter. “Get ready for an exciting time. Put on the seatbelt because we’re going.”
Boehner, Portman others attend inauguration
Kasich’s friends, family and supports nearly packed the 2,800-seat theater across from the Statehouse. In attendance were U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, several Congressmen, former Gov. Bob Taft, former Attorney General Jim Petro, and newly elected statewide officeholders including Treasurer Josh Mandel, Secretary of State Jon Husted and Attorney General Mike DeWine.
The hour-long program was infused with Ohio touches. The All-Ohio State Fair Band got toes tapping with Hang On Sloopy and the Ohio State University fight song and the OSU Glee Club capped off the event with “Carmen Ohio.”
Kasich urged Ohioans to work together for the good of the state and fight the status quo.
“Our enemy is the status quo. The status quo. The dark side human nature that shuts down dreams and basks in fear,” Kasich said. “...Our enemies are those who selfishly look out only for themselves. The last gasp of air in a coal mine. I want mine. And they forget that we are all in this together. Don’t be selfish. Our enemies are those who refuse to recognize the power of teamwork. They refuse to help raise the bar.”
Kasich did not provide specifics or a roadmap of what he hopes to accomplish in his four-year term — something University of Akron political scientist John Green called unusual for an inaugural address.
Governors and presidents don’t always lay out a blueprint for their programs in inaugural speeches, but they usually provide bullet points, Green said.
Former Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner attended the speech and said, “It was a good speech. I hope he does such a good job that we’ll all be proud of him.”
Kasich takes first step to change business regulations in Ohio
Following the ceremony, Kasich named Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor as state insurance director and signed an executive order that gives her authority to review Ohio’s business regulations with the aim of repealing burdensome rules that no longer make sense.
Taylor, a certified public accountant and former state auditor, said she plans to work with the National Federation of Independent Businesses, chambers of commerce, and the Ohio Society of CPAs on the project.
Kasich plans to be in Dayton on Tuesday to meet with the Dayton Development Coalition. On Wednesday, Kasich is traveling to Detroit with Ohio Department of Development Director Mark Kvamme, who is a Silicon Vallley venture capitalist, policy director Wayne Struble and Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee. The group will meet with Big Three automakers, Kasich said.
Kasich said he expects an update from state Budget Director Tim Keen in a week or so and his legal team is also preparing more executive orders for him to consider enacting.
The new governor has appointed 18 of 24 agency directors. Openings remain for leaders of the Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Lottery, Department of Health and Department of Aging and others.
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