News Local/State

Rauner Sworn In As Governor

 
Bruce Rauner takes the oath of office as Illinois' 42nd governor.

(AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Rauner said he's ordering state agencies to freeze non-essential spending.  He said that all sectors must be ready to make sacrifices.

"Each person here today and all those throughout the state will be called upon to share in the sacrifice, so that one day we can again share in Illinois’s prosperity," he said.  "We all must shake up our old ways of thinking. I promise you our administration, this administration, will make our decisions based on the next generation; not the next election."
 
Rauner also says he's asking state agencies to review all contracts signed since Nov. 1. And the wealthy businessman is cutting his own salary to $1 and declining any benefits.
 
Rauner is the first Republican governor to lead Illinois in more than a decade. He faces a Democratic-controlled Legislature and a multibillion-dollar budget hole.  Rauner says lawmakers' history of spending money the state doesn't have has made Illinois less competitive.
 
The governor also says he'll issue executive orders Tuesday to strengthen ethics in the executive branch.

Rauner's inaugural festivities kicked off Saturday with a dinner at the Capitol. He and his wife will greet people during an afternoon open house at the Old State Capitol. 

On Monday night country singer Toby Keith and bluesman Buddy Guy will headline an inaugural concert.
 
Rauner is a wealthy private equity investor who has never before held public office.

Illinois' statewide constitutional officers have also taken their oaths of office.

Republican businesswoman Leslie Munger was sworn into her first tem as comptroller on Monday. New GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner named her to replace Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, who died after winning a second term in November.

Evelyn Sanguinetti was sworn in as Rauner's lieutenant governor.  Democrat Mike Frerichs, a former Champaign state senator, was sworn into his first term as treasurer.

Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan was sworn into a fourth term and Democrat Jesse White was sworn into his fifth term as secretary of state.
 
White is the longest-serving secretary of state in Illinois history.