Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003 | 11:11 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn told the crowd at his inauguration Monday that Nevada is entering "one of the most significant times" in its history -- but he presented few specifics as to how he will guide the state through those times. The terrorist attacks of 2001 showed that the state's tourist-based economy is a fragile one, Guinn said. And he said that with his second term he has been given a chance "to pursue a more stable future" for the state.
He said that he felt reinvigorated and ready to meet the challenges that he will face, but Guinn's 45-minute inaugural speech did not reveal how he will overcome his biggest challenge -- the estimated budget shortfall of $800 million for the next biennium. He said he will discuss the issue Jan. 20 in his State of the State address.
The Rev. Caesar Caviglia of Sacred Heart Church in Ely, who gave the invocation, asked that Guinn be given "adroitness, patience and endurance." About 500 people stood in the chill under a bright sun in front of the Capitol as Chief Justice Deborah Agosti administered the oath of office to Guinn, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Secretary of State Dean Heller, Controller Kathy Augustine, Treasurer Brian Krolicki and Attorney General Brian Sandoval.
It marked the first time in 112 years that the GOP has held all six of Nevada's major constitutional offices.
Guinn, Hunt, Augustine and Krolicki started their second term Monday. Heller is in his third term and Sandoval is starting his first term.
Former senator and governor Richard Bryan and Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, were the only Democrats who were mentioned during the inauguration ceremony.
The event included a 21-gun salute, and the governor's special tribute to Helen Cannon, a former member of the Clark County School Board that hired Guinn as a superintendent. He has called her one of his mentors.
Ralph Burns of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Tribe delivered the benediction in his native language and then told Guinn, "Good luck as your journey begins."
Then the hundreds of invited guests drove to the governor's mansion for a hosted reception that was financed by private donations from such luminaries as Billy Walters of the Walters Group and Larry Ruvo of Southern Wine and Spirits, both of Las Vegas.
Others contributing to the $25,000 private reception were John Gibson of American Pacific, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's Entertainment, Stan Fulton, IGT, Mandalay Resort Group, MGM Mirage, Pat Clark of Nevada Beverage, Park Place Entertainment, Paul Steelman of the Paul Steelman Design Group, Steve Kalish of Republic Services and The Venetian.
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