Inauguration Day 2019: Florida welcomes its new governor

by | Jan 8, 2019


It’s Inauguration Day in Tallahassee, as the state of Florida welcomes the Sunshine State’s 46th governor. Ron DeSantis officially became governor early Tuesday morning, although the swearing-in ceremony won’t take place on the steps of the historic Florida Capitol until sometime around noon on Tuesday.

Tallahassee has been busy in recent weeks preparing for the Inaugural events which began Monday. The celebration of Florida’s new governor continued Tuesday morning with a traditional prayer breakfast on the campus of Florida A&M University, and the swearing-in ceremonies beginning at 11:00 a.m.

DeSantis, considered a friend to the state’s business community, received a special welcome from the Florida Chamber of Commerce which had a billboard erected at the intersection of Monroe and Tennessee streets, one of the city’s busiest intersections. The billboard salutes DeSantis as governor and thanks him for bringing a “Bold Vision to Secure Florida’s Future,” which has been the theme for the Inaugural events.

Joining DeSantis and Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nuñez on the inaugural platform Tuesday morning to take their oaths of office will be incoming Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief of Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, both Republicans. Patronis was appointed CFO by former-Gov. Rick Scott a year-and-a-half ago. New Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat elected to the Florida Cabinet, will also be sworn-in.

The ceremony will include a flyover by military jets and a 19-cannon salute in honor of the new governor.

The swearing-in ceremony is usually followed by the Inaugural parade through downtown Tallahassee, but DeSantis wanted to get right to work on state business, so he cancelled the parade.

Following the ceremony, DeSantis will attend a luncheon with legislative leaders at the Capitol.

On Monday the new governor promised a very busy week to reporters, including the possible removal of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel and at least one of the three appointments to the Florida Supreme Court he’ll get to make once he takes office on Tuesday.

DeSantis suggested last week he could make a decision concerning the sheriff in his first week in office. Israel has been criticized for his department’s handling of the Parkland school shootings that killed 17 students and staff last February.

The new  governor said he expects to announce on Wednesday his choice for at least one of the three state Supreme Court vacancies that were created this month due to a mandatory age requirement for judges in Florida. The appointments are expected to slant the court to a more conservative position on issues.

DeSantis also plans to focus on the recovery from Hurricane Michael in the Panhandle and in the coming days wants to visit that area to let the people there know they aren’t being forgotten in their efforts to rebuild their lives.

DeSantis says he’ll also roll out some new environmental policies for the state.

 

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