With family, friends, and a slew of government officials behind him, and a capacity Ohio Theatre audience in front, Gov. Bob Taft in his inaugural address Monday called on all Ohioans to join him in his fight against illiteracy. He also pushed for officials to work together to improve Ohio schools.Taft, who took a ceremonial oath of office administered by his family immediately preceding his address, was officially sworn in as Ohio’s 67th governor by Ohio’s Chief Justice Thomas Moyer in a private ceremony just after midnight Monday. With him, Maureen O’Connor was also sworn in as Ohio’s new lieutenant governor.”We must make opportunity a reality for every child and every family in every corner of Ohio,” Taft said. “How then do we do so? We invest in people. We help them help themselves. And then we get government out of the way so people can make the most of their God-given talents.”In addition to education, Taft spoke of an anti-drug plan that, led by his wife, Hope, will engage community forces, including universities. He briefly addressed medical care, and he pledged to “give judges the tools to prevent juvenile delinquents from becoming juvenile criminals.”Taft began his speech by giving credit to U.S. Senator George Voinovich, Ohio’s governor from 1991 until this Jan. 1, when he left the position 11 days early to begin his new job in Washington. “I know [Voinovich’s] outstanding record as governor during the last eight years is a key reason why I am standing here today,” he said.During his tenure as governor, Voinovich dubbed himself the education governor, and Taft devoted much of his address to the same topic. “No issue in recent years,” he said, “has caused so much strife or triggered so many harsh words.”From school funding to proficiency tests to school choice, the battle lines have been drawn, and the combatants have too often fired at will,” Taft said.Taft spoke of a “summit” on education he held three weeks ago, which he said “focused on mandate relief and school improvement.”We took an important step last month, an important first step, to replace barricades with bridges,” he said. “But we must do more, because our children’s lives depend on it.”He continued, “In Ohio, as in every state in America, every child should get the chance to learn in a good school – adequately funded, safely built, well-maintained, and laser-focused on academic achievement.”As for higher education, Taft said, “College tuition and job training costs must become more affordable to all who seek to expand their knowledge and skills.” However, most of his words on education focused around the topic of illiteracy.Taft mentioned OhioReads, a literacy program he proposed “to turn all Ohio children into successful readers.”He said fewer than half of Ohio’s fourth graders passed recent reading proficiency tests.”The status quo cannot endure,” he said. “We must – and we will – do better.”He pledged to create a force of 20,000 volunteer tutors to help children from kindergarten to fourth grade learn to read.Taft’s daughter, Anna, administered the ceremonial oath of office to her father, while Hope held the family Bible on which the new governor placed his hand. Taft’s great-grandfather, William Howard Taft, used the same Bible when he was inaugurated as president of the United States in 1909.O’Connor was likewise sworn-in ceremoniously by her two sons. Alex administered the oath of office and Ed held the Bible.To begin the ceremony, the All-Ohio State Fair Band played several selections, including the OSU fight song. Sylvia McNair, a professional singer who has performed with such ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony, performed “The Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” McNair is a personal friend of the Taft family.Later in the day, Taft swore in members of his cabinet. According to program notes, Taft graduated from Yale University, received his master’s degree in government from Princeton University, and earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He served as a teacher in the Peace Corps in East Africa for two years. Taft served as budget officer and assistant director of the Bureau of the Budget for the state of Illinois. He became a member of Ohio’s House of Representatives in 1976, and was elected secretary of state in 1980.O’Connor received degrees from Seton Hill College and the Cleveland Marshal College of Law. She has served as judge on the Summit County Court of Common Pleas and Summit County prosecutor.The inauguration ceremony was just one in a series of events celebrating the new administration. Sunday, Taft and O’Connor led tours of the Ohio Statehouse during the Ohio Family Celebration. On Monday, events included three separate balls, with tickets prices ranging from $25 to $1,000, and a reception honoring Hope Taft. Today, the Tafts and O’Connors will have a lunch with state employees as a tribute to public service.