Bredesen sworn in; education is No. 1

Let's be bold, governor says

By Richard Locker, Commercial Appeal
January 21, 2007

NASHVILLE -- Citing a "far stronger" mandate from voters, Gov. Phil Bredesen formally began his second term Saturday by promising to focus on improving education and strengthening families.

"Hear me now: I am rolling up my sleeves. I want these next four years to be the time when we set Tennessee on the path of truly putting our children and their education at the head of the list," Bredesen, 63, said after taking the gubernatorial oath of office for his second and final time.

"Lots of things are important: health care and jobs and social services, but education needs to head the list because it is the most important way government pulls its weight to make things a little better for the next generation. To do this, we are going to have to be bold -- but that has never been a problem for Tennesseans," he said.

Nearly 3,000 Tennesseans attended the governor's inauguration on the War Memorial Plaza, with the columned south face of the 153-year-old Capitol as the backdrop. The ceremony was held under rippled clouds -- a chilly 40 degrees but warmer than the freezing cold and snow of his first inauguration in 2003.

Bredesen's second inauguration was more muted than the first, which marked a return to power in the executive branch by Democrats after eight years of Republican rule and nearly four years of bitter fighting over state tax reform. There was no inaugural parade this time but the Tennessee National Guard Band and the Tennessee School for the Blind's Choral Ensemble -- a favorite of Bredesen's -- performed.

All four living former governors -- three Republicans and a Democrat -- sat on the inaugural platform: Winfield Dunn (1971-75), U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (1979-87), Ned McWherter (1987-95) and Don Sundquist (1995-2003). U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and his predecessor Dr. Bill Frist, both Republicans, also attended.

The 12-minute speech set out the themes of Bredesen's second term but not the specifics, which will follow beginning with his State of the State address Feb. 5 and his state budget proposal for fiscal year 2007-08 later next month.

He told reporters after the ceremony his education proposals will include those he outlined during his campaign -- more pre-kindergarten, full funding of the K-12 school "formula" and tuition-free community college for high school graduates who are ready for college -- "and more."

In the speech, he referred to the huge mandate voters gave him Nov. 7. His inaugural committee says he is Tennessee's first governor to sweep all 95 counties, en route to a victory margin of more than 700,000 votes over Republican Jim Bryson.

Bredesen also recognized the new political realities of a state Senate led by the first Republican lieutenant governor since Reconstruction.

"As I begin my second term as governor, I will lead in the way that has proven successful already; to seek not conflict but common ground, to reach out and embrace good ideas from whatever quarter they come; to be the governor of all the people of Tennessee."

Newly elected Senate Speaker and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, participated in the ceremony with House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington. Ramsey told reporters later that Republicans share many of Bredesen's goals but may disagree on how to achieve them.

"I truly do want a world class education system and to make sure we have more kids graduating from high school and going on to college. If we butt heads, we butt heads, but I think we can work well together. The goals are the same; it's just how you to get to those goals," Ramsey said.

Senate Republican Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville described the speech as "upbeat and optimistic."

"We'll have differences of opinion from time to time, not only between parties but between individual members within parties, and it's our responsibility to formulate a consensus so we can move Tennessee forward," Norris said.