Maryland's 62nd Gov. Takes Oath Of Office
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — For just the second time in the past 50 years, Maryland has a Republican governor. Larry Hogan has been sworn in.
Rick Ritter has a look at the ceremony outside the State House inauguration.
It was standing room only Wednesday as Larry Hogan took the oath of office. He admits there's a lot of work to be done but he's promising a "new day" in Maryland.
There was a lot of activity outside Wednesday morning, and it wasn't limited to the politics.
Larry Hogan takes the oath of office on what will be remembered as an inaugural snow day. And all the more ironic, because...
"They said it was going to be a cold day in hell before we elected a Republican governor," Hogan quipped.
His wife, Yumi Hogan, becomes the first Asian American first lady in Maryland. She is an artist and a professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
VIEW SLIDESHOW: Gov. Larry Hogan's Inauguration On Jan. 21, 2015
First up, Boyd Rutherford was sworn into office as lieutenant governor. He is only the third African American to hold that office.
Rutherford's son, Marshall, introduced Maryland's ninth lieutenant governor. "This is a very humbling experience," Rutherford began.
Rutherford says the administration will be focused on making a government that works for all the people of Maryland.
To elected officials: "I'm honored to be your colleague," said Rutherford. "There is far more that unites us than divides us."
That last Republican governor--Robert Ehrlich--was there, as was former congressman and county executive Lawrence Hogan Sr. and the chair of the Republican Governors Association--New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
"He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but I know that he knows how to bring people together because he's been doing it his whole life," Gov. Christie said.
From that point on, Maryland's new governor took a bipartisan path. He discussed a variety of topics talking about improvements and the $750 million budget deficit Maryland faces.
READ: Governor Larry Hogan's Inaugural Address
"Ladies and gentlemen, we can improve the tone in Annapolis--and we will," said Gov. Hogan. "And we can move towards a common sense, solutions-based government."
Setting the stage for what is shaping up to be a lot of hard work.
"And I vow to work tirelessly every single day to prove worthy of this great honor that you have granted me," the governor said. "We must restore a sense of fairness and balance for Maryland's hard-working taxpayers."
"At the end of the day we all want to have the same kind of prosperity and success," one man said.
"The citizens of Maryland expect great things from us, and they deserve great things from us," said Gov. Hogan.
And that starts right now.
The state of Maryland now has a new governor, a new House, and a new Senate, and on Friday, a new budget.
READ MORE: Governor-Elect Larry Hogan Shares His Vision For Md.
Governor Hogan issued his first executive order Wednesday following his inauguration.
"My first act as Governor holds all those who serve in the Executive Branch of state government to the highest possible ethical standards," Governor Hogan said. "Integrity will be of the utmost importance in the Hogan-Rutherford administration and as such, I expect every person who serves in the Executive Branch to adhere to these standards at all times. This is the right thing to do, and it ensures that good government practices will be in place from the top to the bottom of my administration."
READ MORE: Larry Hogan's Fire Executive Order
The governor attended an inaugural gala scheduled for Wednesday night at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Hogan says he started working on the budget the day after he was elected. Friday, he will present it to the Maryland General Assembly.