State Supreme Court Justices, elected officials and Gov. Jim Justice were sworn in this afternoon, marking a subdued — and socially distanced — inauguration ceremony that was held outdoors at the state capitol.
It was an occasion to thank West Virginia’s public servants and reflect on the struggles of the past year.
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Cedrick Farmer sang the national anthem at the 2021 inauguration. Farmer has performed in Charleston Light Opera Guild and West Virginia State theater productions.
Members of the state’s coronavirus task force thanked essential, medical and military personnel, while remembering those lost to COVID-19. More than 1,800 people have died in the state since the pandemic began.
Coronavirus czar Dr. Clay Marsh said West Virginians made the best of a devastating year.
“I’d like to thank each citizen for their commitment to protecting themselves and each other,” he said.
Justice noted efforts to improve tourism, curb opioid addiction and rescue three trapped miners during his first term. He touted West Virginia as a “diamond in the rough,” promoting the state’s beauty, its values and its economic potential that he said was simply waiting for outsiders to discover.
He said it was an honor to serve a second term as his family sat nearby on the capitol steps — and as cameras panned to Baby Dog, his English bulldog, who made a leashed appearance.
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Baby Dog, Gov. Jim Justice’s English bulldog, says hello to the crowd at the 2021 inauguration.
“I thought really and truly if I gave four years of my life to serve and do it right, that would be enough, but there’s more to do,” he said.
Looking to the nation’s capital, Justice thanked former President Donald Trump and congratulated President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.
At a virtual press briefing Thursday, Justice said he’s already spoken with the new administration regarding COVID-19 vaccine supplies.
It’s clear many of the adults living in Appalachia are focused on what the new president can do for the economy here, but they’re not alone. Young people also have their own concerns about Trump.
Students from Frankfort High School in Mineral County marched in the inaugural parade Friday in Washington, but before they left, they shared their thoughts about President Trump and their role in performing at his inauguration.
The story is a part of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s collaborative reporting project, 100 Days in Appalachia.
The audio was collected by Nancy Andrews and Justin Hayhurst and produced by Dave Mistich. For more on the Frankfort High School band and to see their portraits, visit 100daysinappalachia.com.
Jim Justice took his oath of office on the steps of the state Capitol Monday, becoming the 36th governor of the state of West Virginia.
In his inaugural address, Justice focused on the challenges the state is facing and shared a message of hope as he committed to face those challenges head on after recounting many of the anecdotes he shared on the campaign trail.
“I want absolutely nothing, nothing. I don’t want a thing for me or my family in any way. All I want is goodness for this incredible state and its incredible people,” Justice said, a reason he often gave voters when asked why he was running for office.
The billionaire, who has made his money in the coal, agriculture and tourism industries, is perhaps best known in the state for his work at The Greenbrier Resort, in White Sulphur Springs. He also served a partial term on the Greenbrier County Board of Education and has said he will continue in his role as a high school basketball coach in Greenbrier County.
He thanked his players, who attended the ceremony and sat on stage surrounded by members of the West Virginia Legislature, the state’s congressional delegation and the newly sworn-in constitutional officers.
Justice described himself as a reasonable person, someone you can talk to, and he promised to bring that attitude to his new role as governor. He directly addressed legislative leaders of both parties who attended the ceremony.
“Those people, I’m going to look at as friends,” he said. “I’m going to trust them. I’m going to implore that some way, somehow, we get together and make greatness work.”
“There’s no point in dividing ourselves between Republicans and Democrats and Independents,” Justice added.
The new governor’s inaugural address seemed to preview the policy plans he will be expected to detail for lawmakers during his first state of the state address, in February.
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West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and his wife, Cathy, embrace during his inauguration ceremony in Charleston, W.Va., Monday, Jan. 16, 2017.
Justice began by pointing to the largest challenge he will face as governor- the state’s budget.
“We have got to find a way to raise revenue,” he said. “We cannot continue to just kick the can down the road and drain more of the Rainy Day because we’re not going to go anywhere.”
Justice promised on the campaign trail he would not raise taxes on West Virginians, but during his address, said he was open to any new idea to tackle the problem.
A large portion of the speech focused on fixing the state’s ailing education system. That begins, Justice said, with a reduction in the number of bureaucrats overseeing it.
“I have an education plan right here that I’m going to submit immediately. It’s going to be the elimination of a bunch of unnecessary agencies,” Justice said. “It’s going to be a look at education in a different way that has never been looked at for a long, long, long time.”
As of Monday afternoon, the governor’s office had not made that plan public, but lawmakers have similarly been discussing reducing the bureaucracy of the state’s education system.
Recently, those discussions have been largely focused on getting rid of RESAs, or the state’s 8 Regional Education Service Agencies.
Justice touched on tackling other challenges, like the substance abuse epidemic he says is “cannibalizing us.” He said he’ll get Wall Street to invest in a plan to build roads and bridges, and he’ll market West Virginia as a tourist destination to compete with any in the country.
The coal company operator also discussed new plans for the state’s energy sector. Justice said he’ll propose a new structure for the state’s severance tax to help the coal and natural gas industries.
“I’m going to request that we tier the severance tax on coal and gas both in this way: when the companies are really hurting, I say we try to help, but on the other hand, when the companies are really winning, we’ve got to get more, too,” he said.
Both industries have taken hits during the past several years, resulting in decreased tax collections and fewer jobs, jobs Justice said he’ll find a way to bring back to West Virginia.
He ended his address with a message of hope. On the campaign trail, Justice often asked voters to close their eyes and imagine a better West Virginia.
He did that once again Monday, asking them to imagine a place where children attended the best schools in the country, where they drove on state of the art roads and bridges, where grandparents could have Sunday picnics with their grandchildren because they weren’t forced to leave the state to find work.
“We can do it,” he said. “We can do it. We will do it. It’s time for West Virginia to claim their place. It is truly West Virginia’s time.”
Justice’s term as the state’s 36th governor officially began at midnight Sunday. He will deliver his first State of the State Address to lawmakers on Feb. 8, when he will also present them with a plan to balance the 2018 budget and close a projected $400 million budget gap.
Gov.-elect Jim Justice will take his oath of office Monday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. on the steps of the state Capitol during his inauguration ceremony.
Elected in November, Justice will become the state’s 36th governor.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting will be carrying the ceremony live on radio, television and online. That coverage begins at 12:45 p.m.
PROCESSIONAL AND FANFARES 249th Army Band Mr. Jeremiah Bennett
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PROCESSIONAL David M. Fryson, Esq., West Virginia University Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission See “Battle Hymn of the Republic” on page 20
RINGING OF THE BELL HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. The Honorable Earl Ray Tomblin The Honorable Jim Justice Representatives from the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission
WELCOME Mr. Bob Cochran, Master of Ceremonies
POSTING OF THE COLORS Joint Color Guard including the West Virginia National Guard and West Virginia State Police
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Mr. Donald Parker
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Greenbrier County elementary school students
INVOCATION Rev. David Carrico, Executive Minister West Virginia Baptist Convention
ADMINISTERING OF THE OATHS Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Mac Warner, Secretary of State John B. McCuskey, State Auditor John D. Perdue, State Treasurer Kent Leonhardt, Commissioner of Agriculture Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General Elizabeth D. Walker, Justice, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia “WIND BENEATH MY WINGS” In memory of James Conley Justice, father of the Governor Ms. Haley Burns
PRESENTATION OF GOVERNOR JIM JUSTICE The Honorable Earl Ray Tomblin
ADMINISTERING OF THE OATH FOR GOVERNOR JUSTICE Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Judge John A. Hutchison West Virginia Tenth Judicial Circuit Judge Hutchison will present the Bible for the oath.
SALUTE 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery
“STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER” 249th Army Band
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS The Honorable Jim Justice
“GOD BLESS AMERICA” The Greenbrier Entertainers
BENEDICTION Pastor Greg Scott First Baptist Church White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
RETIRING OF THE COLORS Joint Color Guard including the West Virginia National Guard and West Virginia State Police
Tickets for West Virginia Gov.-elect Jim Justice’s inaugural ball are now on sale.
The inaugural ball will be held the evening of Jan. 16 at the Greenbrier resort that Justice owns in White Sulphur Springs. Tickets are $75 and available at www.InaugurationWV.com .
The event is black tie optional.
Among the entertainment at the ball will be former “America’s Got Talent” winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.
