Ruth Ann Minner To Be Sworn In As Delaware’s 72nd Governor Wednesday
Dover – Ruth Ann Minner will become Delaware’s 72nd Governor and its first woman chief executive at noon on Wednesday in a bipartisan ceremony in Legislative Hall. Afterwards, she will appoint her cabinet as her first official act.
Because Minner is Delaware’s current Lieutenant Governor, she will take office 13 days early when current Gov. Tom Carper is sworn in to the U.S. Senate. The Delaware Constitution mandates that the governor be inaugurated on the third Tuesday in January, which this year falls on Jan. 16. Formal inaugural events will still take place on Jan. 16.
Minner’s swearing-in will take place on the center staircase in Legislative Hall. State Treasurer Jack Markell will serve as master of ceremonies for the event. State Senate President Pro Tem Thomas B. Sharp, State Senate Majority Leader Thurman Adams Jr., State Senate Minority Leader Steve Amick, Speaker of the State House of Representatives Terry Spence and State House of Representatives Minority Leader Robert F. Gilligan will each take part in the ceremony.
During the ceremony, Alexandra Parkowski, 16, of Dover will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Paige B. Cutrona, a Dover native who is a sophomore at Westminster Choir College, will sing “Our Delaware.” The benediction will be given by Father Michael Protack, Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church. The Delaware State Police Honor Guard will post the Delaware and American flags.
The oath of office prescribed by Article XIV of the Delaware Constitution will be administered by the Honorable William J. Walls Jr. of the Family Court of the State of Delaware, a longtime friend of Minner’s who administered her oath each time she was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor. Minner’s daughters-in-law – Margaret Ingram, Phyllis Ingram and Cindy Ingram – will hold Minner’s personal Bible as she takes the oath. Current Secretary of State Edward Freel will witness a written copy of the oath.
After the public ceremony, a reception hosted by the state Senate Majority will take place in the Senate Hearing Room in Legislative Hall.
Prior to 2:30 p.m., Gov. Minner will accept the resignations of all cabinet secretaries who will not remain in their posts during her administration. All cabinet secretaries had previously submitted written resignations that are effective upon acceptance by the Governor.
Gov. Minner will designate Assistant Secretary of State Sabrina Derrickson Hill as acting Secretary of State. At 2:30 p.m. in the Governor’s office in Legislative Hall, Gov. Minner will sign Executive Order No. 1, naming her cabinet nominees as “recess appointments,” a designation under Article III, Section 9 of the Delaware Constitution that will allow them to begin work immediately but which makes them subject to eventual state Senate confirmation. Acting Secretary Hill will attest the order.
After Executive Order No. 1 is signed, all new cabinet members will be sworn in.
On Thursday, Gov. Minner will hold her first cabinet meeting. On Thursday and Friday, she will sign Executive Orders No. 2 and 3 in public ceremonies.
