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Reprinted
from
 Minnesota's 4 constitutional officers
sworn to elective office
Tuesday, 02 January 2007
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Minnesota’s four constitutional officers — two of whom having never
served in elective office before — took the oath of office on Tuesday
(Jan. 2) in St. Paul.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty was sworn into his second, four-year term as governor
in a ceremony at the Fitzgerald Theater.
“The overwhelming feeling I have is one of gratitude,” Pawlenty said
last week of the emotions of taking the oath of office.
‘It’s been an incredible opportunity to serve the state and this office
as governor,” he said.
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Otto flanked by son, husband |
Former lawmaker Rebecca Otto,
of Marine on St. Croix, was sworn into office as State Auditor with
voter advocate and former state official Mark Ritchie taking the oath
for Secretary of State.
The two Democrats defeated incumbent Republicans in the November DFL
electoral romp, giving Democrats three of the four state constitutional
offices.
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Ritchie sworn in as Secretary of State |
Ritchie never before served in elective office.
Solicitor General Lori Swanson, of Eagan, took the oath of office in two
separate ceremonies — one at the Capitol, the other at the Fitzgerald —
to become Minnesota’s first female State Attorney General.
Swanson at the Capitol ceremony took the oath of office from her former
boss, Attorney General Mike Hatch, and former attorney general Miles
Lord.
Hatch praised Swanson as being smart, tough, competitive, compassionate.
Hatch, who slipped on a patch of ice while walking his dogs on Christmas
Eve day, breaking four ribs and a collar bone, called Swanson to come to
his assistance.
He joked that Swanson took the opportunity, as he laid sprawled in pain
on the sidewalk, to ask him again to come and work for the Attorney
General’s Office.
Hatch agreed.
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Swanson with husband at side |
Swanson delivered a brief
address at her Capitol swearing in.
“My mission is for the Attorney General’s Office to fight for the rights
of everyday people, and especially those without a voice,” said Swanson.
“In my Attorney General’s Office, no one will be so powerful they are
above the law or so powerless they are beneath its protection,” she
said.
Swanson successful run for attorney general was her first introduction
into electoral politics.
Swanson entered the race late summer after former state representative
Matt Entenza became entangled in a controversial about digging for
political dirt on Hatch.
(Photos by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)
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