CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Nevada has its 30th governor. Brian Sandoval took his oath of office in front of hundreds outside at the state capitol Monday afternoon. Governor Sandoval made it clear there is a tough road ahead with cuts, but that an uplifting attitude can heal the state.
The governor was surrounded by family and other constitutional officers on the crisp and partly cloudy day. His inauguration speech reiterated his position about optimism for helping the economy by strengthening business. From that, he says, jobs will grow and foreclosures will improve. But he was honest: cuts will come.
"If we make the tough choices -- the right choices -- we will be rewarded with a dramatically different future. I believe this. I believe it can be done. And I'm optimistic that Nevada's best days are yet to come," he said.
Immediately after the speech, the governor signed two executive orders and a proclamation. One order contains new ethics rules for state workers and elected officials. The other is a freeze for a year on a slew of proposed administration regulations. He says economic stability must be his focus.
"I want to send a message right away that my first priority in this administration is for Nevada to be a business friendly state," he said.
The governor met any and all Nevadans at a reception, keeping the mood light and open.
The administration is being tight-lipped about their budget, but you're seeing some news leak out. The governor is clear jobs will be lost in his tenure, but it will lead to savings and a balanced budget. We'll know more by the end of the month.
