LANSING -- Echoing the words of President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inauguration speech, Jennifer Granholm urged Michiganders to get involved in the political process, telling them, "You, in your hands, hold the power to change the world."

Granholm, 43, was sworn in today just before noon as Michigan's first female governor, becoming the second Democrat to hold that post in 40 years.

Her inauguration capped a meteoric rise in Michigan politics for the Northville resident, who began serving in elective office only four years ago, as the state's attorney general. She had previously served as Wayne County corporation counsel and assistant U.S. attorney.

Sworn in on the steps of the State Capitol by Judge Damon Keith of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Granholm and various other top state officials, after a 21-gun salute and a flyover by four Air National Guard jets, then proceeded to the Lansing Center in the capital city's downtown for their inaugural addresses.

Michigan's new governor commenced her address with an optimistic outlook.

"The door has been opened, so bring in an air of innovation," she said. "The door has been opened, so breathe a renewed air of citizen patriotism, duty and service to one another. The door has been opened, so bring in an air of possibility of hope."

Her address followed a rousing rendition of the National Anthem, performed by famed Motown singer Aretha Franklin.

During her address, Granholm predicted the first part of her term would prove difficult, as she will have to find ways to close a more than $1 billion hole in the state budget. Granholm has said "pain" will be felt by many dependent on state government services as long as the budget problems exist. She has pledged to use tax increases only as a last resort and to instead focus on economic development to improve the state's economy, thus boosting revenues into state coffers.

"Government will be great and it will do great, but it will take much more than government to enhance our quality of life, especially in these tough, tight, trying economic times," she said. "It will take all of us working together as a family. And, as a family, I know that you will engage with me in setting our priorities, in deciding what is most vital for the public good."

Granholm replaces Republican John Engler, who held the top office for 12 years and was lauded by business groups but almost despised by labor and environmentalist organizations.

After her own swearing in, Granholm swore in Lansing Mayor David Hollister as head of a new state department that will focus on economic development, a combination of several existing state departments. Hollister, a former Democratic state representative, has served as Lansing's top official for the past nine years, and has been praised for revitalizing the downtown area and attracting to the city a minor league baseball team as well as two General Motors Corp. plants.

Granholm also swore in other members of her Cabinet, including Mary Lannoye, Engler's budget director from 1997 to 2001 -- who returns to her old post -- and Jay Rising, a former deputy state treasurer under Democratic Gov. James Blanchard, as state treasurer.

Other appointments made by the new governor: Environmental attorney Steven Chester as director of the Department of Environmental Quality -- which Granholm wants to merge with the Department of Natural Resources -- Lt. Col. Tadarial Sturdivant as state police director, Janet Olszewski as director of the Department of Community Health and William Overton and William Anderson, to continue, respectively, as heads of the departments of Corrections and History, Arts and Libraries.

"We will focus on the 3rd grade girl who wants to learn but whose potential still lies totally unseen," Granholm said. "We will focus on the laid-off worker I met in Flint on Saturday, who asks for nothing more than good work to support his family. We will focus on the mentally ill uncle who winds his way in search of shelter on a bitter winter day."

For the office of lieutenant governor, Clio Democrat John Cherry was sworn in to replace Republican Dick Posthumus, Granholm's opponent in the gubernatorial race. Cherry, who served as Senate minority leader until this year, will be heading up legislative operations for Granholm.
"We have enormous fiscal challenges that will cause us to hit the pause button on some of the plans and programs that we promised," Cherry said. "We must deal first with the budget and then get to work on our initiatives to protect our families and educate our children."

Granholm will have to work closely with Republicans, who now control both houses of the Legislature, as well as the offices of attorney general and secretary of state.