Newsom Pledges To Focus On Jobs, Economy
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Newsom, the former San Francisco mayor, pledged to work with Gov. Jerry Brown in restoring government.
The Democrat was sworn into office Monday by his father inside the Senate chamber. William Newsom is a retired associate justice of the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco.
Newsom, founder of the Plumpjack restaurant group, said in his inauguration speech that he will focus on helping businesses and creating jobs despite his limited role as California's second-in-command.
The lieutenant governor fills in when the governor travels out of state or is incapacitated. Newsom also will serve on the governing boards of the state's public universities and commissioSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gavin Newsom pledged Monday to bring more of California's entrepreneurial spirit to the Capitol as he was sworn in as California's 49th lieutenant governor.
Newsom, 43, a former San Francisco mayor, pledged to focus on job creation and other economic issues as he took the oath of office administered by his father, William Newsom, a retired associate justice of the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco, inside the Senate chamber.
Gavin Newsom, founder of the Plumpjack restaurant group, said in his inauguration speech he will focus on helping businesses and employment despite his limited role as California's second-in-command.
"I know my role as lieutenant governor is limited," Newsom said. "Hopefully I can encourage everyone around here to take some risks ... We've got to bring that entrepreneurial spirit back into Sacramento and not be afraid of tomorrow's headlines."
The lieutenant governor fills in when the governor travels out of state or is incapacitated. Newsom also will serve on the governing boards of the state's public universities and commissions dealing with economic development and conservation.
Newsom defeated former Republican Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado last fall. Maldonado, who was in attendance Monday, said he hopes Gov. Jerry Brown and Newsom work collaboratively the way he did with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Best known for his support of same-sex marriage and for creating a universal health plan in San Francisco, Newsom said he brings local perspective for a state mired in a fiscal crisis. The same day Newsom took office, Brown released a budget package aimed at erasing the state's $25.4 billion deficit during the next 18 months.
"I come here with a lot of ideas," Newsom said.
Newsom was accompanied by his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and their 15-month-old daughter Montana. He said after the ceremony that he planned to split his time between Sacramento and San Francisco.
All statewide officeholders -- including Attorney General Kamala Harris, who was San Francisco's top prosecutor -- were in attendance except for the governor. Newsom was joined by San Francisco's next mayor, Ed Lee, who will become the first Chinese-American to lead the city.
Newsom had delayed his inauguration by a week while the outgoing Board of Supervisors lined up an appointment for his successor.
During his speech, Newsom said he remained optimistic about California's future and said the state should look to green technology for new economic development opportunities. He touted the state's pioneering spirit that's drawn innovators and entrepreneurs for generations.
"One of the great things about being mayor is no one cares if you're Democrat, no one cares if you're Republican," Newsom said. "They just want to make sure the potholes are filled. But we all know this, we got a big pothole and we don't have that much gravel to fill it."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)ns dealing with economic development and conservation.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
