Gov.-elect Rick Scott will roll into office on the heels of a series of inaugural events that will feature national news personalities, performance artists and high school bands from throughout Florida. The events will be a celebration of his electoral victory, but some will also be reminders of the states 12 percent unemployment rate and his recipe for recovery.
There will be 12 events in Tallahassee, starting with the Salute to Women in Leadership Breakfast held Monday morning and culminating Tuesday night with the Inaugural Ball. Those will be far from the first events attended by Scott, however, as he wrapped up a victory lap of the state earlier this week, criss-crossing the state and hitting Naples, Clewiston, Lake Buena Vista, Miami, Jacksonville, Panama City and Fort Walton Beach.
The festivities, financed by private donors at more than $2 million, will create a $4.5 million economic boon to the state economy, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce. At least $2 million of that impact will be felt in Tallahassee.
The inaugural events are a welcome boost to Tallahassees economy. In addition, well have an opportunity to show Governor-elect Scott that Tallahassees vibrant business community is doing its part to rejuvenate the states economy, said Tallahassee Mayor John Marks.
While most Floridians will be ringing in the new year this weekend, staffers at the Leon County Civic Center Arena, which is hosting three inaugural events, will spend the first day of 2011 preparing for the inauguration.
Were preparing the arena to set up for all of those events, as well as the inaugural ball itself. Everything starts setting up on the 1st, said Ron Spencer, executive director of the Civic Center.
The inaugural ball at the Civic Center will mark the renewal of a tradition, as it played host to balls for former Govs. Bob Graham, Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush before outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist decided not to hold a ball at all as part of his inauguration ceremonies in 2007.
Absolutely, we welcome it. We would like to welcome Governor Scott to Tallahassee. Its always exciting when a new governor comes to town, when a new administration comes in, Spencer said.
The forecast for the inauguration ceremonies in Tallahassee for Monday and Tuesday is partly cloudy with a high of 61 F and a 30 percent chance of rain Tuesday.
Here is a rundown of the events taking place:
Monday --
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. -- Salute to Women in Leadership Breakfast
The Florida State University Alumni Hall Grand Ballroom, located at 1030 W. Tennessee St. in Tallahassee, will host this event, and Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren, host of On the Record, will be the keynote speaker. The breakfast will honor Scotts running mate on the campaign trail, Lt. Gov.-elect Jennifer Carroll, the first African-American and the first woman elected to be lieutenant governor in Florida, and Pam Bondi, who will be the states first female attorney general. Tickets are available to invitees only.
Noon-1:30 p.m. -- A Tribute to the First Lady: Honoring Ann Scott
The Gov.-elects wife of 38 years, Ann Scott, will be feted. She met Scott in high school in Kansas City, Miss., and graduated from Southern Methodist University with a bachelors degree in business administration. An avid volunteer with many charities, the 2011 Inaugural Committee announced Thursday that Ann will join with the Volunteer USA Foundation for a book drive at the Governors Mansion Open House inaugural event (see below). This event will take place at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, located at 350 S. Duval St. Tickets are available to invitees only.
2 p.m.-4 p.m. -- Military Appreciation: Honoring Those Who Serve
A concert will be held to honor the states military members and veterans at the Leon County Civic Center, located at 505 W. Pensacola St. The concert will feature performances by country music artists Lee Greenwood, Rockie Lynne, Aaron Tippin and John Michael Montgomery.
This will be the first of three inaugural events held at the Civic Center, which will also host the youth concert and the inaugural ball. The concert is free and open to members of the military, veterans, Blue and Gold Star families, ROTC members, the National Guard, members of the Wounded Warrior Project and their families and guests. It is expected to attract 3,000 to 4,000 people.
5 p.m.-6 p.m. -- Forging a Path to Prosperity Reception
Business leaders from across the state and throughout its economic sectors will gather for this reception at the Goodwood Museum and Gardens, located at 1600 Miccosukee Rd. Scott consistently pushed his belief in relying on the private sector to be the vanguard of new job creation in the state, and businesses will be eager to hear his plans to reduce regulations that he says prevent job growth. Tickets are available to invitees only.
6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. -- Celebrating Floridas Future Youth
This will be the second concert held at the Civic Center, and the lineup of country music artists that will play the military appreciation concert. The event is free and open to the public.
8 p.m.-10 p.m. -- Friends of the Inaugural Candlelight Dinner
This event is for members of the Inaugural Committee and other volunteers involved with the inauguration ceremonies. The Mission San Luis, located at 2100 W. Tennessee St., will host this event. Tickets are available to invitees only.
Tuesday
8 a.m.-10 a.m. -- Inaugural Prayer Breakfast
Chuck Colson, best known as special counsel for President Richard Nixon who pled guilty to obstruction of justice in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, will be the keynote speaker. Colson, who turned to evangelical Christianity upon being sent to prison, has since founded Prison Ministries -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to prisoner rehabilitation -- and written more than 20 books.
Kirt Anderson, pastor of Naples Community Church, will give opening remarks, with an invocation from Bill Bunkely to follow. Readings will also be given by Rabbi Moshe Scheiner, Bishop Frank Dewane and Scott family members, and Bishop Vaugh McLaughlin and Imam Enrique Rasheed will follow with speeches. Pastor Guillermo Maldonando will give the benediction.
The Avenue D. Boys Choir, tenor Ronan Tynan and the Florida A&M University Choir will perform during the event. Gina Marie Incandela, the 8-year-old singer who gained fame two years ago for her renditions of the Star Spangled Banner before Orlando Magic games during their run to the NBA Finals, will sing the national anthem.
The Al Lawsom Jr. Multipurpose Center at FAMU, located at 1800 Wahnish Way, will host the prayer breakfast.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- Swearing-In Ceremony
Scott, Carroll, Bondi, Chief Financial Officer-elect Jeff Atwater and Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner-elect Adam Putnam will be sworn in at the Old Capitol building. The event is free and open to the public.
Gov. Crist and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp will attend the ceremony, and former Govs. Jeb Bush, Buddy MacKay, Bob Martinez, Claude Kirk Jr., and Wayne Mixon are also expected to attend. Sen. Bill Nelson, lame-duck Sen. George LeMieux and former Sen. Mel Martinez will also be in attendance.
In preparation for the ceremony, Monroe Street will be closed between Jefferson Street and Gaines Street, and Apalachee Parkway will be closed from Monroe Street to Franklin Boulevard from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. -- Lets Get to Work Leadership Luncheon
This event takes its name from Scotts campaign slogan, and is intended to stress the rehabilitation of Floridas economy as the new governors No. 1 priority. Scott will gather with government leaders from all three branches on the 22nd floor of the Capitol building for the luncheon. Tickets are available for invitees only.
2:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. -- Inaugural Parade
More than 70 entries from all over the state will participate in the Inaugural Parade, including 26 marching bands and numerous floats.
Erin Isaac, director of communications for the Inaugural Committee, explained the selection process for each entry:
Inaugural Committee Executive Director Spencer Geissinger sent a letter to each of Floridas 67 counties Rick Scott for Florida Chairs asking them to conduct a fair and open process to select participants from each county. The key guideline given to the County Chairs was to ensure a process that was fair and open to all who wanted to apply or compete for the opportunity to participate. The entries could include, but were not limited to, high school or university bands, horse troops and floats. Participants were informed they needed to be self-funded, but the Inaugural Committee would provide meals during the parade for participants and accompanying chaperones.
The parade will start at the corner of Call Street and Monroe Street, heading south on Monroe before turning west on Madison Street and ending at the Leon County Civic Center. The event is free and open to the public, and there will be viewing stands along the parade route, which is less than a mile long.
The following roads will be closed in preparation for the parade:
-- Call Street (between Monroe Street and Macomb Street, beginning at 11 a.m.).
-- Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (between Tennessee Street and Park Avenue, beginning at 11 a.m.).
-- Monroe Street (between Tennessee Street and Gaines Street, beginning at 1 p.m.).
-- Apalachee Parkway (between Monroe Street and Franklin Boulevard, beginning at 1 p.m.).
-- Madison Street (between Railroad Avenue and Monroe Street, beginning at 1 p.m.).
4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. -- Governors Mansion Open House
Scott and his family will open the doors of their home to the public. The Governors Mansion is located at 700 N. Adams St. The event is free and open to all Floridians.
7 p.m. -- Inaugural Ball Celebrating Floridas 45th Governor
The ball is sometimes seen as an extravagant event, but this year it can also be seen as the ending of a charity fund-raising campaign. At events throughout the state leading up to the inauguration, the Inaugural Committee raised more than $100,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project, the nonprofit organization that aids injured service members and their families.
Neal Boortz will be the emcee, and the ball will feature performances by Gina Marie Incandela, the Zach Bartholomew Trio, the FSU Orchestra, Rockie Lynne, and the KTG Band.
Spencer estimated that the event will bring in 1,500 to 2,000 people. The Inaugural Committee will provide decorations but the Civic Center will provide the catering, with a menu of fruit, seafood, Cuban and Southern food that was chosen to reflect Floridas various tastes.
Tickets for the ball are available to invitees only. Black tie attire is required.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
