CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The Latest on Gov. Chris Sununu inauguration (all times local):
12:15 p.m.
New Hampshire’s new Gov. Chris Sununu says his top priorities are curbing the state’s drug abuse crisis, addressing workforce and economic challenges, controlling rising health care and energy costs and improving education.
The 42-year-old Republican was sworn into office Thursday, following in the footsteps of his father, John H. Sununu. With Republicans leading the House and Senate, Sununu’s inauguration marks the first return to full GOP control in Concord since 2004.
Sununu says despite the two-year election cycle, he wants to change the mindset in Concord and called for long-term thinking and planning.
He said no one in the state has been untouched by the drug crisis, and repeated his calls for aggressive prevention programs in schools, expanding recovery programs and ensuring that law enforcement and first responders get the support they need.
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Noon
Newly sworn in New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu is kicking off his inauguration speech by calling for bipartisanship.
Addressing the Legislature and others at the Statehouse on Thursday, he said, “We can’t be divisive.”
The governor, a Republican, says state government has had a tendency to do that. He says working together, “we can do great things.”
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11:45 a.m.
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu has been sworn in as New Hampshire’s next governor, following in the footsteps of his father.
The 42-year-old Sununu was sworn into office at about 11:45 a.m. Thursday. His father, John H. Sununu, served as governor in the 1980s. With Republicans leading the House and Senate, Sununu’s inauguration marks the first return to full GOP control in Concord since 2004.
Sununu was sworn in by the chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Linda Dalianis.
Sununu’s first mission as governor will be crafting the next two-year state budget. And he doesn’t have much time. A budget draft is due to lawmakers in February. They’ll then modify it and pass a final version in June.
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12:03 a.m.
Republican Chris Sununu is hours away from becoming New Hampshire’s next governor, following in the footsteps of his father.
The 42-year-old Sununu will be sworn into office around noon Thursday. His father, John H. Sununu, served as governor in the 1980s. With Republicans leading the House and Senate, Sununu’s inauguration marks the first return to full GOP control in Concord since 2004.
Sununu’s first mission as governor will be crafting the next two-year state budget. And he doesn’t have much time. A budget draft is due to lawmakers in February. They’ll then modify it and pass a final version in June.
Other policy initiatives include passing right to work legislation and potentially changing New Hampshire’s election laws.
Sununu is replacing Democrat Maggie Hassan, who became a U.S. senator Tuesday.
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