Gov. Lujan Grisham is publicly sworn in, delivers inaugural address

Layouts BreadCrumbs BreadCrumbs SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, in issuing an assertive and hopeful first inaugural address Tuesday afternoon at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, outlined the steps New Mexicans must and will take to collectively realize their shared vision of a thriving New Mexico. Lujan Grisham was publicly sworn in by New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge M. Monica Zamora at 12:27 p.m. In optimistic and tough-minded remarks that reflected her lifelong commitment to fighting on behalf of the vulnerable, and against the inertia of inequality, the governor avowed that she will lead the charge for responsibly enhanced investments in early childhood education and social welfare and move beyond talking about a diversified economy into the genuine development of new industries that will put New Mexicans to work — and, in the process, renew New Mexico’s faith in its state government by re-establishing openness, honesty, flexibility, accountability as hallmarks of the Governor’s Office. In her 30-minute speech, Lujan Grisham emphasized that a relentless commitment to doing the hard work, the defining characteristic of her decadeslong public life, will see her administration through to its lofty and yet achievable goals and deliver a comprehensively reimagined New Mexico. “The status quo will not stand, because we believe in a very different New Mexico,” the governor said. “Together we will find the courage to create the promise of tomorrow for our children and their children. We will have the core strength to stay the course and stand as one when our resolve is challenged. … “Political victories are not worth a whole lot on their own. Progress into the better day we all envision is a collaborative, everyday effort. And it doesn’t happen without the unifying commitment of New Mexicans who truly believe this better future is not only possible but within reach, especially if we are reaching for it together. “So we’re not here today to celebrate a political victory — but to remind ourselves a victory is only as good as the work ethic of the victors. We’re not here as members of a winning party but as New Mexicans with our sleeves rolled up.” Lujan Grisham highlighted the importance of early childhood education and outlined steps her administration will take to enhance the state’s investments in its children. She also emphasized the development of a more robust economy through measures such as eliminating the cap on annual film rebate payouts, part of a renewed effort to commit to and elevate the state’s film and media business, and a methane mitigation rule. She also spoke about her administration’s emphasis on boosting renewable energy production as a means of securing New Mexico’s environment, its greatest legacy, for generations to come. For reference, the complete prepared remarks from Lujan Grisham’s first inaugural address are as follows: From this moment on, the podiums in this state are all exactly this tall. Thank you. Thank you all for being here. I want to especially thank my beautiful family for their unyielding love and support – Erin, Taylor, my brother Gregory, and the first Manny. My mother, Sonja, could not be here today — an incredible woman, an incredible role model — but I would not be here today without her. Thank you, Mom. I want to also thank our brilliant new lieutenant governor, Howie Morales, and his family, for their eagerness to come along on this ride with us. I want to thank Gov. Susana Martinez for her service to our state and her graciousness during this transition. I want to thank Sen. Jeff Bingaman for serving as our transition chairman. I am humbled to be in the presence of so many incredible leaders, who have chosen to join me on stage today. Thank you to Sen. Tom Udall for being here. Thank you to Congressman Ben Ray Lujan. I want to recognize Gov. Toney Anaya, Gov. Garrey Carruthers; our secretary of state, Maggie Toulouse Oliver; our attorney general, Hector Balderas; our new land commissioner, Stephanie Garcia Richard; our new state auditor, Brian Colon; our chief justice, Judith Nakamura; and, of course, our distinguished Senate Majority Leader, Peter Wirth, and our distinguished House Speaker, Brian Egolf. And, most importantly, I want to thank you all. My fellow New Mexicans: Standing before you today is an honor and a privilege so far beyond what any one person can articulate. So I want to talk about something we all share in this moment. There is a choice before us — all of us. We have had high hopes before. I want to show you how this moment will be different. I want to show you how we can take prosperous expectations and turn them into prosperous reality. I want to show you that we can prioritize the miles of agreement we share over the inches that separate us. I want you to believe, as I do, that our perseverance will triumph over pessimism. The choice we face today forces us to stand and deliver on our conviction that we can , now, build something better — together, and only together. We have an obligation, now, to not only dream but be accountable to our aspirations. And we have, right now, the power to decide what we will become. Together, and beginning this moment, we can choose to dramatically broaden our understanding of what New Mexico can be; we can choose to comprehensively reimagine this state. The status quo will not stand. Because we believe in a very different New Mexico. And together we will find the courage to create the promise of that tomorrow for our children and their children. We will have the core strength to stay the course and stand as one when our resolve is challenged. We will go big. Really big. Together. I have, in my life, found my strength in our numbers, in the people working alongside me. I have been driven by the chance to do the hard work and do it well. I invite you to see it this way now. I think we are all here today because we know the stories about how this state has failed so many of…