TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Rick Scott took the oath of office for a second term as Florida's governor just after noon Tuesday on the steps of the Old Capitol Building.
Scott was sworn in on a sunny, cool day in Tallahassee. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Attorney General Pam Bondi also inaugurated to start their second terms, as was Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who took office early last year.
In his remarks, Scott said he wants to continue limiting the size of government and lowering taxes.
"While we are focused on growing jobs in Florida, we must realize that positions our state as a fighter in a great movement against the silent growth of government," according to an excerpt of Scott's speech provided by his office. "Many states, like Florida, are fighting to limit the growth of government and grow opportunity instead."
READ: Transcript of Scott's inaugural address
Scott claims he fulfilled his campaign promises and declared he will expand on his jobs-jobs-jobs approach by inviting companies from other states to relocate.
"I have a message today to the people of New York, Illinois, California, Pennsylvania and others: Move to Florida! We want you to keep more of the money you make because we understand it's your money. We want your businesses to grow and succeed. We want to compete globally and win. Over the next four years, I will be traveling to your states personally to recruit you here."
For the partisan crowd attending the inaugural, Scott's promises sound like music to their ears. To campaign-weary citizens, it's more like relief.
"This was a very difficult campaign," said Susan McManus, political science professor at the University of South Florida. "Never have we seen so much money on that much negativity, to the point that people were really wearisome of the election by the time if was over."
Scott beat Republican-turned-Democrat former Gov. Charlie Crist in November by 1 percentage point. Like his first term, he won the election receiving less than half the votes cast.
Florida Democrats face uphill battles against a Republican sweep in the cabinet and even larger majorities for Republicans in the House and the Senate.
But the noted Scott's second term began as Democrats claimed victory in the years-long controversy over same-sex marriage and vow to continue fighting for a progressive agenda.
"We're going to keep on our mission, keep moving forward. That's what we do," said Allison Tant, chair of the Florida Democratic Party. "We're here to protect. We're here to speak out for those who can't out for themselves."
Tuesday's inauguration ceremony was more low-key and less expensive than Scott's first inauguration and funded by donations made to the Florida Republican Party.
The day started with a prayer breakfast at 8 a.m. at FAMU.
Music from university choirs was interspersed with prayers during the multi-denominational ceremony. Keynote speaker Jim Towey, president of Catholic Ave Maria University in Naples, even added a slice of humor.
"When the governor called me after the election and said, ‘Jim, I've got a job for you. I'd like you to speak at the inauguration prayer breakfast,' I remember thinking to myself, ‘All Gov. Scott thinks about are jobs, jobs, jobs.' So I was the 715,710 job he created."