COLUMBUS – A weekend of oath-taking and celebrating culminates in the inauguration of Ohio’s new governor and lieutenant-governor.
Governor-elect Mike DeWine was officially sworn in as the Governor of Ohio this morning during a brief midnight ceremony at his farm in Cedarville. He and Lt. Governor-elect Jon Husted take their oaths in a public swearing-in at the Statehouse later Monday morning.
The governor’s inaugural gala is also scheduled for the Statehouse Monday.
DeWine will mark a shift away from volatility in a state buffeted in recent years between the shifting ambitions of an outspoken governor and the frequent outbursts of an unpredictable president.
Even before taking office Monday, the 72-year-old attorney general has moved through the transition process with a methodical calm. He’s laid out his slate of diverse, bipartisan Cabinet picks at amply announced press conferences. He’s politely declined to step on outgoing Gov. John Kasich’s toes.
The theme of his inaugural, “Faith, Family and Friends,” feels like a dose of comfort food after Kasich’s bold “New Day” and two years of President Donald Trump.
DeWine’s comfortable election this fall put Ohio’s oldest governor and one of the state’s most familiar politicians at the helm.
DeWine announced last week that Husted would head up a new office overseeing technology-related improvements. DeWine said Husted will head the InnovateOhio office and lead workforce development efforts as part of his new role as lieutenant governor.
Incoming attorney general David Yost will also be sworn in Monday.
All five of the state’s executive offices opened up this year as a result of term limits and Republicans maintained control of all five.
State Rep. Robert Sprague had the first inaugural of the group, a swearing-in in Findlay Friday evening. He replaces Republican Josh Mandel as treasurer.
Husted’s replacement, State Sen. Frank LaRose, was sworn in as secretary of state at noon Saturday in Akron.
State Rep. Keith Faber took his oath as Ohio’s next auditor, replacing Yost, the same day in Celina.