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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPerdue sworn in for second term
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue was sworn into a second term Monday afternoon, bringing with him the state’s first Republican lieutenant governor and Secretary of State.
In remarks to about 4,000 people attending the inaguration at Phillips Arena, Perdue said Georgia was moving into an era of national leadership. While including no details about his plans for his second term, he promised to leave Georgia better than he found it when he retires in four years.
“I want to hand off a well-run state .. one whose principles will endure beyond a change of leadership … one whose children are at the top of their natioinal class … one who is operating strong, conservative fiscal policies … and one who is moving forward with momentum,” he said.
“The only legacy I seek is the same one any parent or grandparent seeks: to hand off our state, our home, to the next generation in better shape than we found it.”
The governor’s inaugural address made reference to the possibility that his replacement was in the arena, sitting behind him. New Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson, (R-Hiram) and new Secretary of State Karen Handel, all in attendance, are among those considered possible gubernatorial contenders. Governors in Georgia are limited to two terms.
Monday’s ceremony made Perdue the first Georgia Republican inaugurated for a second four-year term. Cagle and Handel were also sworn in Monday, becoming the first Republicans in their jobs in Georgia.
Other statewide elected officials, including Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, who was first took office in 1969, were also sworn in this afternoon.
Before the event, military march themes filled the arena, while signs declaring Perdue’s campaign theme, “Moving Georgia Forward” hovered over the ground floor, which is used by the NBA Atlanta Hawks and NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers.
Lawmakers filled the seats behind the speaker’s podium, and behind them sat the Woodstock Baptist Church Choir, which performed during the ceremony.
The event had the air of a national political convention, with giant screens showing the state flag and Perdue’s campaign theme in front of waving American flags.
Among those attending were former Govs. Carl Sanders, Joe Frank Harris and Zell Miller. Miller, the Republicans’ favorite Democrat, received a standing ovation when his name was announced.
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