Walker takes oath as Utah governor

History was written Wednesday morning when Olene Smith Walker took the oath of office as Utah's 15th governor — the first woman governor in the state's 107-year history and the first to be sworn in by the first woman chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court.

"I recognize I am following in a tradition of strong state leaders," Walker said in her inaugural address to more than 1,000 onlookers, mostly elected officials, party insiders, church leaders and family members.

"Each day as I come to work," she said, "I pass the portraits that hang in a row on the marble walls outside my office. I like having them as an intimate reminder that like each of my predecessors, I have the responsibility to do the best job that I can do of serving the people of this state. The time is now."

And adding to the historic flavor of the event was Mike Leavitt, who became the first Utah governor to resign before his term was completed.

Walker's comments came moments after Leavitt, overwhelmed by emotion and fighting tears, officially signed a resignation document after 11 years as governor. He acknowledged a rousing standing ovation by blowing a kiss to the crowd, but he did not speak.

Walker took the oath of office moments later, also to a standing ovation that was punctuated by a 19-cannon salute.

The inaugural address revealed few specifics about the direction the Walker administration might take. But it was clear she plans to make education a focal point of the 14 months in her term. (Walker has not said whether she will seek the GOP gubernatorial nomination next year.)

"Trust me," she said, "education is in my DNA."

Walker, 72, said it is "time to switch tracks" in the education system to one that no longer equates learning with time in the classroom, but with the skills that have been mastered. That is something that will require the commitment of the education community and parents, whom she called on to read to their children 20 minutes every day.

"We have the dedication and capability to make the changes needed in our educational practices," she said. "Even though Utah has one of the highest literacy rates in the nation, we can do better."

The new governor did not reveal details of how she plans to accomplish those changes, or what her policy agenda might be, or if she would support a tax increase to fund education. Those announcements will come in the weeks ahead, she told reporters during her first press conference Wednesday.