“I feel very, very encouraged, very motivated. “I'm rejuvenated," she said in an interview during an inaugural breakfast reception in downtown Frankfort. Educators were chosen to be grand marshals of the parade.ĭevan French, a second-grade teacher in Bourbon County, said she was so disheartened by Bevin's criticism of teachers who rallied at the statehouse that she nearly left the teaching profession.īut on Tuesday, she said she's glad she stuck with it, and feels energized by the inauguration of a governor she sees as an ally to teachers. Bevin feuded with teachers over pension and education policies throughout his term. Teachers were given high-profile roles on inauguration day, reflecting Beshear's gratitude for their help in propelling him to a narrow victory. The same family Bible was used when Steve Beshear was sworn in as attorney general, lieutenant governor and both times as governor, and when Andy Beshear was sworn in as attorney general. The new governor swore his oath with his hand on a Bible given to his parents as a gift on their wedding day. But right here and right now, we have a moment in time, maybe a moment in history, to get this right."īeshear countered Bevin's strong ties to President Donald Trump with a disciplined campaign that stuck to “kitchen-table issues” such as education and health care. And we see our neighbors viewing neighbors as the enemy. “Anger, insults, even hatred, have infiltrated the very sacred institutions of our government. “We also have the opportunity, no I think it's the duty, to prove to this commonwealth and this country that we can still govern," he said. Hearkening back to his campaign themes, Beshear spoke of the opportunity to improve education, health care, retirements and wages for Kentuckians. Noting that Kentucky was the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, Beshear declared that “it's now time for Kentucky to step up again, believing in the common good, committed more to each other than any national divisions or any national parties." But in remarks after taking the oath, he urged the state's leaders to resist the trend of political rancor and to reach across party lines. Republicans hold overwhelming majorities in the legislature. Crowds braved cold, windy conditions to gather downtown for the parade.īeshear's inauguration ushers in an era of divided government. The official transfer of power preceded a full day of inaugural events Tuesday, including a worship service, a parade and a public swearing-in ceremony on the Capitol steps.īeshear and his family were up early to attend the worship service at a Frankfort church. The post-midnight swearing-in is customary in Kentucky, to ensure continuity at the head of state government. Her background as a teacher and assistant principal was a key asset for a ticket that stressed its support for public education. Jacqueline Coleman was sworn in as the state's lieutenant governor. They are the first father-son duo to serve as governors in Kentucky history. (AP) - Calling on Kentucky to set a national example of casting aside political divisions, Democrat Andy Beshear took his oath of office as governor early Tuesday in a private ceremony in the Governor's Mansion.īeshear, 42, follows in the footsteps of his father, Steve Beshear, whose two terms as governor preceded the single four-year term of Republican Gov.
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