Liberty Plaza's formal debut will have to wait.
Gov. Nathan Deal had hoped to hold the swearing-in ceremony for his second-term at the sparkling new park across the street from the statehouse. Instead, the threat of rain and cold weather forced the governor's staff to shift the ceremony indoors.
Tom Willis, the governor's campaign director-turned inaugural chief, sent word Saturday night that Deal and other constitutional officers will now take their oaths in the House Chamber. Since it's a much cozier site than the expansive park, there will be viewing sites dotted around the capitol complex.
Deal's staff had been preparing for days for the move, as the National Weather Service predicts rain throughout the day Monday and temperatures in the high 40s. That doesn't make it easier to swallow for Deal, who had long planned to debut the new park with an outdoor swearing-in service.
"I wish I could expect it to be outside, but it appears now that it may not be the case," Deal said earlier Saturday.
Willis said the campaign took the "health and safety of inaugural guests in mind" with the switcheroo.
"While moving the event indoors limits seating and crowd capacity, the wellbeing and comfort of our guests is of utmost importance," he said.
This isn't the first time Deal's staff had to make late changes to inaugural festivities due to the weather. The swearing-in ceremony was moved indoors in 2011 after a winter storm struck the night before, and his inaugural gala was postponed for months.
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