"My fellow Virginians, the hour has arrived – to renew our faith, to affirm our purpose, and to unite our people for the common good.

Mindful of those who have preceded me and humbled by the oath that I have taken, I make this solemn pledge: to honor your trust, to earn your respect, and to work to ensure that this Commonwealth assumes her rightful place as a leader among the states of our great nation.

In return, I ask but this of you: Work with me to restore our economic strength, to put aside our partisan differences, to put Virginia First so that we will lead the way in education, innovation, opportunity and commerce.

Work with me to realize a vision of one Virginia, shared by all our citizens, and one future, filled with hope and opportunity.

As we gather on the steps of this historic capitol building, let us pause a moment to honor our fellow Virginians serving in our nation's armed forces.

Our prayers are with our military and their families, and for the safety of our fellow Virginians serving our Commonwealth here at home – our police officers, National Guard members, firefighters, and emergency service personnel.

America is stronger because of you.

On this day, we also express our appreciation to Governor Gilmore and Mrs. Gilmore for their hard work on behalf of the people of Virginia.

We proudly acknowledge Lt. Governor and Mrs. John Hager, whose leadership Virginia calls upon again, and former Attorney General Mark Earley and his family, for a public career of honor, faith and purpose.

All have given their best to our people, and, today, we salute them.

I also acknowledge the promise of two others who have joined me today in taking an oath of service to the people of Virginia: Lt. Governor Tim Kaine and Attorney General Jerry Kilgore.

I look forward to the great things we will do together.

Today, I am mindful of the support and sacrifice of many people who helped make this day possible: The faithful of a political party that nominated me, the friends who have supported me, the love of my wife and three daughters who have sustained me, and the encouragement of my parents and sister who have stood by me. I thank them all.

I stand before you today the product of a loving family, good public schools, student loans and an industry that did not exist twenty years ago.

My parents taught me the values of hard work, responsibility and perseverance – and my faith taught me compassion and tolerance.

Nineteen years ago everything I owned fit in the back seat of my 1965 Buick – but I was given the opportunity to succeed.

And I know something of the power of the American dream. I know what hard work and a dream can do.

I know the spirit of the American dream is still alive because I have been blessed to live it. I want the promise of this dream to burn brightly for all Virginians.

This will be our purpose. But there is much work to be done. Let me lay out some of guiding principles of our adminstration.

First, we must ensure the financial integrity of our state government. Our constitution requires it; our people deserve it; and our success depends upon it.

To those who expect an easy remedy to our current financial circumstances, we will offer a long-term vision – not short-term fixes.

And, to those who question our resolve to meet the challenges before us, let me assure you – we come sufficient to the cause.

We will re-build the financial structure of state government, with openness, accountability, vision and plain old straight talk.

Second, we must pursue with renewed purpose economic growth for all of Virginia.

We will encourage the creativity of all of Virginia's entrepreneurs.

We will seek to attract new companies to all parts of our Commonwealth and work to ensure the prosperity of existing Virginia businesses.

In the information age, Virginia will lead the nation.

Third, we must match our commitment to a strong economy with an equal commitment to preserve the quality of life enjoyed by all Virginians.

We will be vigilant in recognizing that the prosperity of our communities will be inseparably linked to the quality of our schools and transportation networks, to the condition of the environment, to freedom from crime, and to the protection of our Commonwealth from threats both here and abroad.

Our success in the new century will depend not only upon our ability to create new jobs, but also upon our ability to ensure that our citizens have the skills to compete.

To this end, we will seek constantly to strengthen our schools, and to reward our teachers for a job well done.

Fourth, we will honor the service of our public employees. We will make Virginia's public employees full partners in our efforts to move the Commonwealth forward.

We will require more of our state government. Our success will not be measured by the effort expended, but by the results achieved.

Excellence will be our standard. Accountability will be our guide.

Fifth, and finally, we must have a state strengthened by the diversity of our people, not divided by it. We will draw upon the uniqueness of all our citizens – their cultures, their religions, and yes, their political views.

Together we reaffirm the dream realized by one son of Richmond, who once stood where I now stand, and provide hope so that every child will know they too are the sons and daughters of Virginia.

For today, we issue an invitation – join us. Join us.

But we must act now. For in five short years Virginia will enter her fifth century, and we must be prepared.

Fundamental economic change threatens the stability of many parts of the Commonwealth. Many of our rural communities suffer the consequences of relying on single-industry economies.

In too many parts of Virginia, frustrated commuters endure clogged roads – and await the completion of projects promised long ago.

Local government leaders are often ignored while their potential goes unrealized.

Our technological infrastructure bypasses much of Virginia.

We have too often failed to recognize the contribution of those who serve – those who teach, those who protect us from harm, and those who care for the sick and elderly.

Our dominion is becoming a state of cul-de-sacs with ignored cities and forgotten small towns. Too many of our people are unemployed – and too many of our schools, our colleges and our universities are over-crowded and under-funded.

We have even failed to reach consensus on the budget. And our citizens have suffered the inevitable consequences.

We can do better. And, my fellow Virginias, we will do better.

History reveals that whether by providence or necessity, when Virginians have united in common purpose, they have achieved remarkable feats.

We all know well the contributions during this past century of our parents and grandparents.

What will be said of us?

Let the children of our children say that we challenged ourselves to make Virginia, the state that led America's first century, the state that also led America into the 21st century.

For we live in a time of transformational change, as we rush at internet speed into an information age. In the 21st Century world, success depends on a community's quality of life and the quality of the workforce, where ideological and partisan differences pale.

I know Virginians have the capacity to meet this future. For this is our history.

As Virginians, we have been revolutionary when necessary; loyal when called and determined when the mission is before us.

My fellow Virginians, it is time once again for a little revolution – a revolution based not upon a desire to separate or tear apart, but upon the need to unite and come together.

And, because in any revolution, there must be a first shot fired, let us begin by changing the way we do business in Richmond.

Mr. Speaker and Mr. President Pro Tem of the Senate, on behalf of all Virginians, I extend to you the hand of friendship and cooperation. (Here Warner is to step from the podium to shake hands.)

Consider what we can create together.

One Virginia – where no child faces the future unprepared, with inadequate education and unappreciated skills;

One Virginia – where partisanship, for the mere sake of it, is overcome by cooperation, for the public good;

One Virginia – where our state government is professional and accountable and where innovation and merit are rewarded;

One Virginia – where our colleges and universities strive for national prominence in the arts, in the sciences and in medicine – and we support them;

One Virginia – where we reject the false choice between a strong economy and a clean environment;

One Virginia – where we have a skilled workforce, an efficient transportation system, and an infrastructure designed for a new economy;

One Virginia - where new Americans are welcomed to call Virginia home.

And, ultimately, one future – where opportunity is not the precious treasure of a few, but the bounty of all Virginia.

We pledge this today and much more.

Not because this Virginia will be easy to achieve, for it will not.

Not because we can reach this destination in one administration, for we cannot.

But, because the journey must begin.

We know the enormity of the challenges before us, as we seek the blessings of the Almighty on this endeavor.

And in the end, let it be said that together we left this place filled with hope, in the confidence that together, we can one day reach our destination, a place where each Virginian is limited only by the dreams the mind can imagine.

For this is our Commonwealth.

One Virginia – confident and strong.

One future – safe and secure.

One people – united and free." (Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 13, 2002)