COLUMBUS — Gov. John Kasich’s inauguration celebration this weekend will be largely a re-enactment of his first one four years ago, with the exception of those big-screen TVs at Monday night’s gala to accommodate fellow Ohio State fans.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who stumped for Mr. Kasich as then-chairman of the Republican Governors Association, will be on hand 11:30 a.m. Monday when Mr. Kasich and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor take the ceremonial oaths for their second terms at a ticket-only event at the Southern Theater.
Mr. Kasich, however, will be officially sworn in shortly after midnight Monday morning by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor in a brief event in the Ohio Senate.
Events will begin Saturday and continue through late Monday as Mr. Kasich, Ms. Taylor, Attorney General Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Jon Husted, Treasurer Josh Mandel, Auditor Dave Yost, and Supreme Court Justices Sharon Kennedy and Judith French, all Republicans, take official or ceremonial oaths.
Here’s the rest of the schedule:
● Saturday, 1-4 p.m.: The governor’s inauguration will kick off the same way it did in 2011 with Family Day activities open free to the public at the Statehouse. A highlight is a return of the Columbus area pop band New Hollow.
● Sunday, 2 p.m.: Mr. DeWine’s son, 1st District Court of Appeals Judge Pat DeWine, will administer the oath to the attorney general in the Statehouse Rotunda.
● Monday, 10 a.m.: Mr. Husted will take the oath in the Ohio House chambers with U.S. Sen. Rob Portman administering.
● Monday, 10 a.m.: Mr. Yost will take the oath in the Statehouse Atrium with Chief Justice O’Connor presiding.
● Monday, 8 p.m.: Governor Kasich’s ticket-only inaugural gala will take place at the Columbus Hilton. Large screen TVs will show Ohio State-Oregon national championship game.
● Tuesday, 3 p.m.: Treasurer Josh Mandel will take the oath in the Statehouse Rotunda. Details have not been finalized.
● Wednesday, 3 p.m.: Justices Kennedy and French have already been officially sworn in, but traditional ceremonies will take place inside the courtroom at the Ohio Judicial Center. Retired Butler County Common Pleas Judge Matthew J. Crehan and Chief Justice O’Connor will administer the oaths, respectively.
First Published January 9, 2015, 5:00 a.m.