Guinn takes oath of office

Monday, Jan. 6, 2003 | 11:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn, sworn in to a second term today, says he received some "good news" Friday on working on his budget.

But Guinn refused to say what the "good news" was. Earlier it had been reported that the state will receive an extra $60 million from the federal government for Medicaid.

Guinn and his staff toiled through the weekend to fashion the budget, in which the deficit could range anywhere from $600 million to $800 million in the next two years without new taxes.

The governor and the other constitutional officers assembled on a platform under sunny skies in front of the state Capitol where the oath of office was administered by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah Agosti.

Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs-McDonald acted as master of ceremonies. The Rev. Caesar Caviglia of Sacred Heart Church in Ely gave the invocation.

Manuel Mederios sang the National Anthem, and Ralph Burns of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe delivered the benediction.

Guinn arrived at his office at 9 a.m. and declined to talk about his budget. His chief of staff, Marybel Batjer, said there would be a briefing Wednesday on the budget. The governor said he wanted to save most of the information for his State of the State message Jan. 20 to a joint session of the Legislature.

In addition to Guinn, those sworn were Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Secretary of State Dean Heller, Treasurer Brian Krolicki, Controller Kathy Augustine and Attorney General Brian Sandoval. Sandoval is the only one who was elected to his first term. All others were re-elected to a second term, except Heller who is now embanking on his third term.

About 600 people were invited to a private reception at the Governor's Mansion following the oath of office ceremony.