Jindal to be inaugurated today
Published 11:47 pm Sunday, January 13, 2008
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal attended a prayer service on Sunday, a day before he’s to take office and become the nation’s first elected Indian-American governor and the first nonwhite governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction.
Churchmen from around the state read scripture and offered support for Jindal, who sat in a front pew next to wife Supriya and other family members at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Baton Rouge.
Less than a mile away, viewing stands and risers awaited Monday’s inauguration on the front steps of the Capitol.
Thousands are expected to attend the ceremonies, to include the 11:30 a.m. swearing-in of Jindal along with Louisiana’s other statewide elected officials: the incoming attorney general, James ‘‘Buddy’’ Caldwell, and incoming agriculture commissioner Mike Strain, as well as Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, Treasurer John Kennedy, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon.
The West Monroe High School marching band will perform, Alexandria singer Mickey Mangun will sing the national anthem and fighter jets are to fly overhead after the singing of ‘‘God Bless America.’’
State lawmakers will be sworn in inside the Capitol.
An invitation-only inaugural ball will be held Monday night, in the Baton Rouge River Center.
The inaugural ceremonies will be broadcast live by Louisiana Public Broadcasting, beginning at 11 a.m.