Louisiana, Jan 14, 2008
Satnam Grewal
NRI (non-resident Indian) Bobby Jindal, 36, the first nonwhite
governor, the youngest governor in the nation was sworn in as
Louisiana's 55th governor at 12:07 p.m.
Pascal Calogero, chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court,
administered the oath making Jindal the first nonwhite governor
in Louisiana and fourth Republican state chief executive since
Reconstruction. He is the first governor from Baton Rouge since
the 1920s. He was born in Baton Rouge and raised in the Kenilworth
neighborhood.
“Under the spotlight of the world, with generosity from
many and a clear call to common purpose. We have the opportunity
to make lasting and positive change,” he said to the crowd
of about 2,000 under clear blue skies.
He promised economic reform, better educational system, government
reform, and real recovery in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Jindal
promises a new opportunity for the state especially while still
reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana is rich
in resources but very poor in income, per capita.
Today, let me express my absolute humbleness that I feel for
the opportunity to be the Governor of the State of Louisiana.
I, Bobby Jindal, take the oath of office as my bond. My obligation
is to you the people of this state and not to any political party,
nor to any region exclusively nor to any special interest group
or groups.
When I first embarked upon this journey in trying to become Governor
of Louisiana, I lost an election to a very graceful and feisty
woman, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. She has led this state
through its worst disasters in history, Katrina and Rita and today
due to her leadership; we are poised to be a leader in this great
nation.
I personally thank Governor Blanco for her guidance during very
tough times and for her willingness to make my administration
as successful as possible. While in the past, we have disagreed
on various issues which will always be the case between elected
officials in government, I have immensely enjoyed working with
her. I wish her the very best in the next stage of her life. On
behalf of Louisiana, she, her family and her administration has
our deepest and most sincere gratitude.