Dear Fellow
State Employees - January 10, 2010
We all have been given different gifts and talents in life, and a gift
that you and I share is the gift of service. It is our privilege to
serve our fellow Ohioans as employees of state government.
I believe that public service is a noble calling and, like many of you,
I have spent most of my life in pursuit of that calling. Now we are
being called to apply our gifts as public servants to transform our
state from a place that has, of late, struggled, to a place in which
every Ohioan can realize their God- given potential.
Our state and our fellow citizens have faced difficult times lately.
Too many of our neighbors are out of work. Too many of the most
vulnerable among us are suffering. Too many of our cities and towns
have seen families and businesses leave for greener pastures.
This must end.
We are going to help Ohio get back on track and we are going to do it
by working together. As I said in my inaugural speech, which is
attached, I believe very strongly that our only shot at success is to
harness the combined energy, commitment, creativity and hard work of
people from every corner of Ohio.
Like any organization, state government has, over time, slowly become
too bureaucratic. Together we’ll recharge it, reform it, modernize it
and, yes, in some cases, make it smaller.
Our most important goal as the employees of the people of this great
state is to help revive the economy so our neighbors can get back on
their feet. We are up to the challenge because we are Ohioans. Together
we can do it.
Sincerely,
John Kasich Governor of Ohio
TIME: 12:20 p.m.
Governor John R. Kasich Inaugural Speech
Ohio Theatre, Columbus, Ohio
January 10, 2011
Well, I have to start by thanking my great family, my little daughters,
Emma and Reese, coming up on their 16th birthday.
[LAUGHTER]
Almost. They act like it. They'll be 11 here on the 16th of January and
it's very exciting for them.
Whenever I leave the room at night, often Emma says, "Daddy, I love
you." Sweeter words were never heard, Sweetheart. And my little
daughter Reese, the other jewel that's in my sky, she gives me those
little hugs. And when I get ready to make a big speech, she says,
"Daddy, keep it short."
[LAUGHTER]
You know, my wife Karen is -- as we all know, she's just a beautiful
woman. But that's not really what drives her or drives me in my
relationship with her. See, we're great friends and great buddies, and
we share so many experiences; from hiking up in the state parks to
trying to take care of our daughters, to exercising, to praying, and
just trying to connect with our friends and our family all over the
country.
Sweetheart, I love you. You're the most important thing in my life.
Thank you, babe.
[APPLAUSE]
You know, it's sort of faith, family and then friends, and I have a
number of friends here. And I have been a very blessed man to have as
many good friends as I have. You see, what it is with my friends and
with me, is that we love one another. We're there for one another. You
know, it's loyalty towards me and support towards me, but you know
what? It's my loyalty to them. I have never been so blessed as to have
the collection of people who tell me the truth and tell me like it is.
But they are there to support me and to strengthen me and to support my
family. So many of them are sitting here in the three or four rows. You
know I love you, right? You know that I love you.
To my supporters, you know, from 1977 on, you've put me on your
shoulders. There's no way that Johnny Kasich could have come here from
McKees Rocks and gotten anywhere near where I've been in my political
life without these supporters. I'm proud of the fact that we've worked
together, and some people call me independent, and in the political
world, they call me brash. You want to know why? Because in my mind's
eye are the supporters, not the ones with the big money, although we do
like them.
[LAUGHTER]
No, it's the -- it's the housewives back in 1977 and 1978 who made the
phone calls and put up the signs and licked the envelopes and showed up
day and night, bringing their husbands with them, and the young people
that I met who've now become protégés of mine and walked door-to-door
with me and reached for the sky. We've reached for the sky and we've
hit the stars, I have no doubt. To my supporters, I love you, too.
Thank you for what you've done to give me a chance.
I want to thank Ohioans, all Ohioans, for giving me the chance to form
a team. To form a team. And to transform our great state. You know,
years ago, I used to use the word "I" an awful lot. I don't know
whether it's age or whether it's prayer or it's the constant beating
that my friends give me, but it's not "I" any longer. It's "we." I
learned long ago working with my great pal, John Boehner, only teams,
only teams can accomplish great things. And you know, 'ole Woody was
right, there is no "I" in team. And together, we, as Ohioans, can get
this job done.
You know, my inauguration, the conductor of a great orchestra, with all
of you playing an instrument in that orchestra, my inauguration is your
inauguration. I want everyone to understand that I hope you can realize
we accept this responsibility together. I have a sense that across
Ohio, people know we have a challenge. So today, we're all inaugurated
into a better day. You know, I'm only a servant. I am only a servant, a
public servant. I report to the people. I report to you, the people.
[APPLAUSE]
And I do not report to special interests under any circumstances. And I
want you all to understand something: I can never work to advance
myself. I will not work to advance myself. My future or my
self-interest is not acceptable.
And as long as I stay on that track, as long as I stay on that path, I
will remain a good public servant. My only purpose, my only passion in
all of this has been to lift Ohio, to make us competitive again, and to
create jobs for our families. Because when our families have jobs, they
have hope. They have dreams. And they have strength. It is my only
purpose and my only passion. And when I wake up every morning, I'll say
my prayers, I'll hug my family, and I will focus on Ohio's economy.
Nothing, nothing can stand in our way.
[APPLAUSE]
I am a servant of the Lord. I am a servant of the Lord.
[APPLAUSE]
He has opened doors all of my life. The Lord has. He has pushed me over
the mountain this time. I don't know why, but I have no doubt that he
has. I've spent a large amount of my life trying to figure out how he
works.
I got a message one day driving up—over by the Hoover Reservoir. It
wasn't a telegram. It wasn't a phone call. It wasn't a voice. But it
was clear. "Stop trying to figure it out, I'm not
going to tell you."
[LAUGHTER]
But here's what I do know: He expects his servants to use their
talents. He expects all of us, because all of us have been created with
a special talent. The key to life is to use those talents, even when at
times it seems daunting and it seems impossible. But boy, I'll tell you
what, no pounding on the chest. No pointing in the sky. He wants us
always to remember where these talents came from. He reminds us that no
one person is superior to any other person because in his eyes, all are
equal.
You know, sometimes I see the scrub lady, and I realize that in the
next life, she's likely to have a bigger crown than I could ever dream
of. Don't go past them quickly; you could be passing an angel. Quiet
reflection is necessary every day so as not to get lost.
D. L. Moody wrote about a Civil War general who was facing a huge
battle. He prayed for two hours. His subordinates said to him, "How
could you spend two hours praying before this big battle?" He said,
"How could I not." Prayer is necessary.
You know, I so loved the memories of my family visiting Ohio. My uncle
Harry, cousin Harry's father, used to tell me when we went to Vermilion
and we passed that Pennsylvania line into Ohio, "Johnny, we've reached
the Promise Land."
[LAUGHTER]
Even as a young boy, I knew that Uncle Harry was right. You see, Ohio
has wide horizons, we have unlimited opportunity. Ohio is an exciting
place. And I have come to understand as a grown man what Ohio is all
about.
We are about common sense. We are about common sense. And we can drive
our country.
Oh, yes, we're about helping our neighbors and loving God and building
a better future for our children. You know what, Ohio has been the
promise land for me because of my family. Because of my friends. And
because of this work. I have never ever considered leaving Ohio, no
matter how great the opportunities in the far away place may have
seemed. I love Ohio. Ohio has given me all that I am today. And now I
can pay back Ohio and help lead us forward into realizing Ohio's
promise and our destiny. Get ready for an exciting time.
[APPLAUSE]
Put on the seat belt because we're going.
[APPLAUSE]
The weeds have grown up. The obstacles at times seemed great. The light
is dimmed in our great state. But I believe we have not yet begun to
fight for our families, for our children and for a legacy.
You know, I've slowed down in my life. And I thank God because it gives
me time to look deep into the eyes of our neighbors across this state.
Oh, yes, I've seen determination. I've seen resolution. And I've seen
strength.
I have seen strength in the eyes of a young woman in Ashtabula who is
committed to growing her small business. And she said, "Mr. Kasich,
please don't wreck my business." She pleaded with me in Ashtabula.
I've seen resolution in the eyes of the people in Scioto County. We
have pledged to win the fight against drug addiction and drug abuse and
save their community and save their families. They were here a couple
days ago, about a dozen women wearing lime green T-shirts, all bore the
mark of somebody who died from that devilish addiction. We are all
going to fight to help them, won't we? All of us will fight to help
them.
[APPLAUSE]
I have seen determination in the eyes of a mom and a dad at Bob Evans.
Right, Bob Evans. Chicken and noodles.
[LAUGHTER]
You know, that mom and dad were eating to stretch their income to
provide a better life to their children. And she said, "We're counting
on you, John." I said, "I'm counting on you to be part of the team."
I've seen strength in the eyes of the people standing in line at a food
pantry in Wilmington. They will not let tough economic times defeat
them. Mary and I were so moved in Wilmington. People, who have played
by the rules, people who have worked hard with common sense and
God-fearing, and one day, nothing. Not—I can't say nothing—because that
hope springs eternal. We're going to help those people in Wilmington,
aren't we all? We are all going to pitch in and help them.
[APPLAUSE]
I've seen resolution in the eyes of the people of Walbridge who are
determined rebuild their community after the devastating tornado. And
to drive by past that devastated school house, and to sit with the
people and realize how they all huddle together, business leaders,
community leaders, clergy, they're a role model for all of us, because,
you know, when one part of Ohio hurts, we all hurt. And when one part
of Ohio succeeds, we all succeed. We all admire and are inspired by our
fellow Ohioans who work to overcome difficult circumstances.
Our enemy. Our enemy is not our people or our assets or our great
cities. We must rebuild our great cities in Ohio.
[APPLAUSE]
They have a great legacy. Our enemy is not our fertile farmlands or our
vibrant family-oriented suburbs. Our enemy, our enemy is the status
quo. The status quo, the dark side of human nature that shuts down
dreams and basks in fear. The status quo, the dark side of human nature
that shuts down dreams. Our enemies are those who selfishly look out
only for themselves. The last gasp of air in the coal mine, I want
mine. And they forget that we are all in this together. Don't be
selfish.
Our enemies are those who refuse to recognize the power of teamwork.
They refuse to help raise the bar. And as our mother used to tell us,
Donna, raise the bar. Make the world better for the fact that we came
this way. The people who refuse the power of team and refuse to raise
the bar are weak. We will defeat them. We will defeat them together.
[APPLAUSE]
Well, as far as it relates to our enemies, we can make them allies.
I've been seeing it happen in my so many meetings and so many trips.
Yes, we can make them allies by our example, because it is absolutely
true that courage is contagious. And we lead by doing, not by saying.
And when we do it, it creates a contagion that cannot be resisted. We
can show them that every person has a moment in time, a moment in time,
a window of opportunity where their legacy will be honored for
generations.
It's not about the big shots, ladies and gentlemen. It's not about the
governor, the senator or the speaker, the justice. It's about our
fathers and our mothers and our grandfathers and our grandmothers who
built America's greatest generation one person at a time by recognizing
their duty and doing it. They were America's greatest generation. We
honor them and we have to live up to the example that they have
provided.
[APPLAUSE]
It is so exciting to be part of a movement that answers the bell. I've
had the great fortune in my life in being part of many movements that
have answered the bell. That works to save our state and strengthens
our country in the process.
As Ohio goes, so goes America. They're watching us. They're watching
us. We will not let them down.
[APPLAUSE]
We are not Republicans. We are not Democrats. We are not liberals. And
we are not conservatives. We are Ohioans. We are Buckeyes together.
[APPLAUSE]
It's our mountain to climb. Can you see it? Can you see that mountain?
I know you can. We can climb it. One step at a time. Helping each other
to be strong. Together, that mountain, we will reach the summit.
God bless America. God bless Ohio.
[APPLAUSE] TIME: 12:40 p.m.
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