INDIANAPOLIS- Gov. Mitch Daniels urged Hoosiers to participate in the new administration's effort for change Monday during his inaugural address at the Pepsi Coliseum.
Indiana is in a fiscal crisis and needs new jobs and investments, but the government cannot do it alone, he said.
"It's time to raise a new barn in Indiana," Daniels said to more than 9,000 people. "We will need the whole community to show up."
While the transfer of authority from one governor to the next has become routine, no one has received the leadership from a "predecessor of greater good humor or warmth of spirit" than Joe Kernan, Daniels said.
The transfer might be a little bumpier this time, however, because the government is moving from 16-year Democratic control to Republican, Roger Hollands, professor of political science, said.
"I see there's a little bit of friction," Hollands said. "The real challenges will be the governor working with the legislature."
It helps that both legislative bodies are in Republican hands, but it will take teamwork to make changes to improve Indiana's economy, he said.
One of the first changes Daniels introduced was having the inauguration ceremony at the Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana Fairgrounds. Normally everyone stands outside the State House, Candes Shelton, co-chair for the Daniel's steering committee, said.
"His goal was to have geographic representation from the whole state," Shelton said.
The coliseum could hold more people than the State House rotunda and provide seating, something Daniels was happy about, Shelton said.
Where the ceremony takes place doesn't really matter as long as the public can be there, Hollands said.
"I don't think it's a terribly important decision," Hollands said. "The important thing is to make it as open as possible and invite as many people as you can and get on with governing"
The new governor's zeal for change but respect for the former administration was well spoken and tactful, Jay Butler, an Indianapolis resident who attended the ceremony, said.
"There's no blame here, let's move ahead," Butler said. "That to me is exciting."
Butler wants to see the government work on the educational process and creating more opportunities for Indiana's college graduates to find desirable jobs within the state, he said.
Butler said he has no doubt in his mind that Daniels will do that and more as he begins to rebuild Indiana "one stone at a time," Butler said.
"Without demeaning his predecessor, change is good," he said.
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