GOOD MORNING,
THANK YOU SENATOR CHAFEE FOR THE CONFIDENCE YOU HAVE IN ME BY MAKING ME THE FIRST APPOINTMENT OF YOUR NEW ADMINISTRATION. I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED. HONORED BECAUSE YOU AFFORD ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE STATE I LOVE ONCE AGAIN. HUMBLED BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE DAUNTING. BUT I AM ALSO EXCITED. THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION IS THE ENGINE THAT MAKES STATE GOVERNMENT RUN. WORKING WITH YOU AND THE TEAM YOU WILL ASSEMBLE, WE CAN MAKE RHODE ISLAND’S GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT, MORE TRANSPARENT AND MORE USER FRIENDLY. BUT WE BOTH VIEW MY ROLE AS MORE THAN JUST BEING A MANAGER. WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO OUR STATE’S PROBLEMS. I WILL ADVOCATE FOR YOUR PROGRAMS WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ENGAGING THE SKILLS I HAVE LEARNED AND EXPERIENCE I HAVE GAINED AS A LEGISLATOR, LT. GOVERNOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, BUSINESSMAN AND ATTORNEY, MY PRIORITY WILL BE TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY TO IMPROVE RHODE ISLAND.
THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO FOCUS ON THE DIFFERENT PATHS WE TOOK TO THIS PODIUM. TO THEM I SAY SENATOR CHAFEE AND I ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF OUR SHARED PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND THIS GREAT STATE OF OURS. BY IGNORING THE POLITICS OF THE PAST AND SEEKING PEOPLE TO SERVE BASED ON ABILITY, EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT, SENATOR CHAFEE BEGINS TO FULFILL HIS PROMISE TO MOVE RHODE ISLAND IN A NEW WAY FORWARD.
SENATOR, I KNOW HOW MUCH AN IMPACT YOUR FATHER HAD YOUR VALUES, YOUR CHARACTER AND YOUR CAREER. AND YOU KNOW MY UNCLE HAD A SIMILAR IMPACT ON ME. I BELIEVE THEY WOULD BOTH BE PROUD THAT WE ARE STANDING HERE TOGETHER TODAY FOCUSING OUR SHARED PASSION ON IMPROVING OUR GREAT STATE. THANK YOU AGAIN AND I PROMISE I WILL DEVOTE ALL MY ENERGY TO MAKING YOUR ADMINISTRATION A SUCCESS.