Kaine takes reigns in Virginia

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WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Timothy Michael Kaine has been sworn in as Virginia's 70th governor.

In a Saturday ceremony rich with the texture of the nation's early history, Kaine evoked the 18th-century legacies of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, the Washington Post reported. He also vowed to embrace what he called the 21st-century bipartisanship of his immediate predecessor, fellow Democrat Mark R. Warner.

"The promise of Virginia is bright today because of their efforts, and it is up to us to carry the work forward for future generations," he told a crowd of about 5,000. "Our challenges today are different than those faced by the Jamestown settlers or the first Virginia governors. But they require fidelity to the same values."

Speaking for nearly 15 minutes, Kaine promised education would be "our top priority."

In a nod to the state's growing immigrant population, particularly in Northern Virginia, he called on those already here to welcome newcomers. Speaking at one point in Spanish, he promised to be "fair and inclusive of all communities" and pledged formal recognition for Virginia's Indian tribes.