February 2005

Governor Ruth Ann Minner

As Governor Ruth Ann Minner took the oath of office for the twelfth, and last, time, she made history again, as Delaware's first female governor, now in her second term. In her Second Inaugural Address, she noted that she was in a “unique position” to “make decisions without regard to their political popularity or consequence.”

The Governor set out an agenda for this term that includes completing the process of education reform in our State, making Delawareans healthier, ensuring through Livable Delaware that development in our State's future is more responsible, providing for less pollution, continuing to save open space and farmland, creating more jobs, bringing new corporate citizens to Delaware and nurturing the companies already here, making Delaware safer, and making State government more effective and efficient.

While the Governor has caused some heartburn with her appointments of Richard Cordrey as Secretary of Finance (replacing Dave Singleton who is now New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer) and Tom Sharp as Secretary of Labor (replacing Harold Stafford who is taking care of his health), she has received praise for her proposal to streamline State government by creating a new Office of Management and Budget that would absorb the Budget and Personnel offices and the bulk of the Department of Administrative Services. As she looks toward the legacy she will leave her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it includes preserving not only the environment, but also, the economic health of the State: “The economic climate we create today must sustain our State until it is time for them and their generation to work.”

She hopes “to continue the tradition of working together, regardless of party, that has served the State well for the last several decades.” Whether the Republican House will go along remains to be seen.

Governor Ruth Ann Minner will share with us her vision and agenda for her second term.

Beverley Baxter