2024 Oath of Office
January 8, 2024
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
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Good morning, everyone. I want to thank each and every one of you for being here.
You are all witnesses to an event which is part of entering office for virtually every elected position in the United States, from local office all the way to President.
On its face, the Oath of Office is the formal process by which we swear-in someone who has just been elected to public office. But, this event is about much more than just process.
It’s about much more than just putting a hand on a bible and reciting words. In Orlando... the Oath of Office is about Promise and Partnership.
It’s a promise each of us makes... to treat both the challenges and opportunities of every single person who calls our city home... as if they were our own.
And, it’s a commitment to work on behalf of people we see every day... as well as those we’ll never have the privilege to meet... to build a city that creates pathways for prosperity for everyone.
Fulfilling that promise... that’s where partnership comes in. You see... if there is one overarching lesson I’ve learned since the first oath of office ceremony we took part in together 21 years ago, it’s this:
We may take the Oath of Office as individuals.
But, creating a vision for the future... and bringing that vision to life... cannot be done alone. It can only be accomplished through the power of partnership and collaboration!
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For the last 21 years... our beloved City Beautiful has been a living testament to what’s possible when people are willing to put aside their differences... their politics... their biases... and their personal agendas... in favor of the collective good.
It hasn’t always been easy. When I was first elected to office, it’s fair to say our community was fractured.
In those early days, we found a way to rally around a shared vision for a revitalized Downtown... the creation of the UCF Medical School and the Medical City…and of course our Community Venues.
And, by the way... isn’t this an amazing venue we’re in today? Our Dr. Phillips Center’s Steinmetz Hall was also recently recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the eleven most beautiful theaters in the world.
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Bringing these big, audacious projects to life through the power of partnership served as a catalyst for other big advances… year... after year... after year.
And the unity we relied upon to bring those projects to life helped us achieve even more big, bold pursuits... and overcome unforeseen challenges.
We eventually brought a regional commuter rail system to life with SunRail. We established Creative Village and the UCF and Valencia Downtown Campus.
We helped foster an environment where thousands of new businesses were born... and hundreds of thousands of quality jobs were created. With our partners at OUC we met the challenge of creating the most sustainable community in the southeast.
We established an incredible partnership that brought Major League Soccer to our city with the Orlando City Lions and then the Pride at Exploria Stadium.
We rallied together to endure economic downtowns and once-in-a-generation pandemics.
Of course... when tragedy struck in 2016 at the Pulse Nightclub, we showed the world what it means to truly love one another.
While all these accomplishments and challenges are different, the common thread that unites them all is partnership. It’s also vital to note that we accomplished all of this at a time when other cities, states and our entire country were becoming more divided.
A major reason for this has also been collaboration between our local governments in Central Florida – in particular, with our friends at Orange County.
I assure you... this is not the norm across much of our country. And it’s a huge credit to Mayor Demings and so many other local elected officials in our Central Florida community.
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Even right now... as we gather to renew our promise to Orlando... we’re doing it at a time when our country seems as divided as ever... as angry as ever... as partisan as ever.
But, here is what I know with every fiber of my being... I KNOW there is so much more that unites us... than divides us as Americans. If we remind ourselves of this constantly... anything is possible.
If we remain open to the perspectives and opinions of others... anything is possible. And, if we treat all people with dignity and respect - even those we disagree with - anything is possible.
So, it’s my hope that here in Orlando... here in our City Beautiful... we can continue to be different and be the unique exception.
It’s my hope that we can continue to show what’s possible when we are able to remain united despite our differences.
I cannot begin to tell you how humbled I am to have been entrusted with the leadership of our city once again. And, I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of what we’ve accomplished TOGETHER... and what I know we’re going to accomplish in the weeks and months ahead!
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If you’ll indulge me just a few more moments to specifically recognize and thank some of our partners. First and foremost... our talented and dedicated City of Orlando family. Would every City staff member here please stand up.
The Orlando we have today is a direct result of your hard work and dedication. There is no better team of City employees anywhere on earth than here.
Thank you, thank you, thank you... for everything you do for our city and residents every day.
We want to recognize and thank our City Commissioners. No Mayor has better partners than these six individuals. Commissioners:
- Jim Gray
- Tony Ortiz
- Robert Stuart
- Patty Sheehan
- Regina Hill and
- Bakari Burns
To everyone that represents our business community... our civic organizations... and our faith-based community... you are the life blood of our city.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to investing in... and partnering with... our City.
And... to our residents... everyone who has made a choice to live in our city... to follow their dreams here... thank you for making Orlando the most special city on earth.
Finally... my wife Susie... my two sons Trey and Drew... and my mother are here today.
I’d like to thank them for their unwavering love and support.
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It’s a new year in Orlando. And at times it feels like so much is changing all around us as we enter 2024... that there are so many reasons to feel anxious and uneasy about the future.
But, I know... WE KNOW... that if we remain united... if we remain steadfast in our commitment to partnership... that the future is ours for the taking.... that anything we envision – together - is possible!
Thank you.
God Bless America.
And, God Bless Orlando!