New Hampshire?s 79th Governor took office today in a brisk ceremony at the State House in Concord. In his inaugural address, Republican Craig Benson pledged to reinvent government and encourage an entrepreneurial approach to the state?s challenges. NHPR?s Trish Anderton reports.
THROUGHOUT HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE CORNER OFFICE, CRAIG BENSON TALKED ABOUT DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY. THE FORMER HIGH TECH CEO KEPT HIS WORD ? AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE WAY HE DELIVERED HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS. WHEN HE STEPPED TO THE PODIUM, HE WAS CARRYING A LAPTOP COMPUTER, INSTEAD OF A SHEAF OF PAPERS. WHEN HE SPOKE, HE DIDN?T READ THE KIND OF PAINSTAKINGLY WORDED ADDRESS PREDECESSOR JEANNE SHAHEEN WAS FAMOUS FOR. HE EXTEMPORIZED FROM A POWER POINT OUTLINE. THE NEW GOVERNOR STARTED THINGS OFF ON A FOLKSY NOTE.
As someone who will forever be more comfortable being called craig than gov, I would rather have a conversation about new hampshire?s future with you than a formal address.
BUT FOLKSY DIDN?T MEAN COZY. BENSON HARSHLY CRITICIZED STATE GOVERNMENT.
How did we get here. Govt doesn?t have a vision, a plan; its become stagnant and outdated
BENSON SAID GOVERNMENT MUST BECOME MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL. HE SAID CABLETRON, THE BUSINESS HE STARTED IN A GARAGE, EMBODIED THE SPIRIT HE WANTS STATE LEADERS TO ADOPT.
Garages are a nh hallmark. They have passion, determination to solve custoemr?s problems. We had the audacity as a garage biz to think we could beat ibm at their own game. And we did.
BENSON SAID HE WOULD USE HIS OWN PAYCHECK TO INSPIRE THAT SPIRIT.
I won?t take a salry as your gov, and I will use that money instead to reward great state employees that come up with great ideas to make change and make things happen.
THE NEW GOVERNOR CALLED FOR MORE COMPETITION IN HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION. AND HE ANNOUNCED AN EFFORT TO TIE SCHOOLS MORE CLOSELY TO BUSINESSES.
Today I?m kicking off a program called adopt a school. Whereby biz allowed to enter school and help with technology needs, with understanding and rewarding teachers with merit pay, by showing students why they?re learning what they?re learning by walking through the hallway and communicating with those students
BENSON ALSO UNVEILED A PROJECT TO HELP THE ECONOMICALLY TROUBLED NORTH COUNTRY. HE SAID HIS BENSON ACTION TEAM WOULD WORK TO PUT THE NORTH ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH THE REST OF THE STATE. BUT OTHER THAN THOSE INITIATIVES, THE GOVERNOR DIDN?T DWELL ON SPECIFICS. HE DID NOT ANNOUNCE A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. AND HE WAS CAREFUL NOT TO PROMISE TOO MUCH TOO SOON.
Change isn?t lke a lightning bolt that strikes and makes our probls disappear. Good change, lasting change, takes time to build right.
THE REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED LEGISLATURE GAVE BENSON A WARM RECEPTION, INTERRPUTING SEVERAL TIMES WITH STANDING OVATIONS. BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW WELL BENSON WILL GET ALONG WITH STATE LAWMAKERS. BOTH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MANY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE NEW. IT?LL TAKE TIME TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW BENSON MEANS TO PUT HIS PHILOSOPHY INTO ACTION, AND HOW RECEPTIVE LEGISLATORS WILL BE. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M
