Gov. Gina Raimondo was sworn in as the state’s first female governor Tuesday afternoon on the states of the state capitol.
A small crowd braved the cold and snow to watch the historic event. Gov-elect Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, former Gov. Lincoln Chafee and his wife Stephanie, and former Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts were some of the dignitaries looking on.
From the beginning Raimondo warned residents that the state faces some tough challenges ahead, “The challenges that any governor inherits define the possibilities before them. And how we solve intractable problems is limited only by our creativity and by our courage to tackle the most difficult challenges.”
She talked about the state’s high unemployment rate and how education is the foundation to a skilled workforce ready for middle-class jobs that will sustain Rhode Island families, “Middle class jobs are how we keep young people in Rhode Island, how we move people off of public assistance, how we rejuvenate neighborhoods, and secure the resources to invest in education and infrastructure, and save for a rainy day.”
Raimondo laid out the first three steps to bringing good-paying jobs to the state, “First, build the skills our students and workers need to compete in the 21st century; Second, attract entrepreneurs and investment in industries of our strengths, to stimulate our economy and create jobs; And third, innovate, including in our state government, to enhance accountability and deliver value to taxpayers.”
Raimondo called on Rhode Islanders to ask themselves what role they can play in rebuilding the Ocean State.
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