Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius today was sworn into office as Kansas’ 44th governor, and urged Kansans to reach back into their past to deal with the current economic problems.

“Today, I am calling on all Kansans to recommit and rededicate our efforts to the values and ethics of the pioneers, who proceeded us on those Great Plains,” Sebelius told a crowd of about 2,000 people outside the Capitol.

She said a commitment to education, hard work, a shared sense of the common good, family and faith would help the state overcome the economic downturn and budget crisis.

Sebelius provided no specific remedies in her 7-minute inaugural speech, but said, “Kansas has endured and conquered difficult times before.”

She said elected officials must “create the framework for success in the 21st century, using the resources available” to provide services.

The 54-year-old Democrat is expected to make a detailed budget proposal Wednesday in a speech to a joint session of the Legislature.

Today, well-wishers showed up on a sunny, cloudless day to cheer Sebelius and other elected officials as they took their oaths of office.

Delia Garcia drove from Wichita to watch the ceremony. “She is going to be a bullet,” Garcia said of Sebelius. Referring to Sebelius’ ankle-length red coat, Garcia said, “Just wearing red says a lot. It’s strong, independent.”

Ben Sherber of Lawrence said he thought Sebelius delivered an optimistic message. “I just hope it all works out,” said the recent graduate of the Kansas University law school.

Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in Monday as Kansas' 44th governor Monday on the steps of the State Capitol in Topeka. Behind her, from left, are her husband Gary, and her sons John and Ned.

Sebelius and the new Legislature face an increasing revenue shortfall, by some estimates $800 million.

But there was little talk today of problems facing the state, as elected oficials and their families focused on ceremony.

Also sworn in today were Atty. Gen. Phill Kline; Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger of Lawrence; State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins; Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh; three Supreme Court justices including Robert Gernon; five members of the State Board of Education and seven judges of the Kansas Court of Appeals.

At an earlier interfaith ceremeony at Assumption Catholic Church, the Rev. Titus James, pastor of North Heights Christian Church in Wichita told Sebelius and about 500 in attendance, “Just have a ball today, for the rollercoaster ride starts tomorrow.”

For more on this story, return to this site later and see the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. 6News reports on Sunflower Broadband’s cable Channel 6 and pick up a copy of Tuesday’s Journal-World.

¢ Governor Sebelius’ inauguration part 1¢ Governor Sebelius’ inauguration part 2¢ Text of Sebelius’ inaugural speech