DENVER – Gov. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday will be sworn-in for a second term as Colorado’s governor, with large inauguration festivities scheduled to accompany the ceremony.
The Democratic governor, who defeated Republican Bob Beauprez in November to hold onto another four years in office, also will deliver his State of the State address to the Legislature on Thursday.
Open seating for the swearing-in ceremony will take place Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the West Steps of the Capitol. Seating is first-come, first-served. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
The inauguration committee – a nonprofit that has been bolstered by donations from corporations and individuals – also has planned a dinner and concert to follow the morning speech.
A cocktail hour and dinner at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $100 and can be purchased at www.ColoradoUp.org.
The concert, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Ogden Theater, will feature Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Big Head Todd and The Monsters, The String Cheese Incident and The Lumineers. The concert is sold out.
Hickenlooper will deliver his annual State of the State address to lawmakers at the Capitol at 11 a.m. Thursday.
The governor is expected to highlight continuing efforts around economic recovery. He already announced last week a $3 million program aimed at assisting Colorado’s long-term unemployed in getting back to work.
The program by the Department of Labor and Employment will support enhanced assessment and training efforts for unemployed individuals who are in need of updated technical training and employer-outreach services.
“During the last four years, we have established tremendous economic momentum, going from 40th to fourth in job creation,” Hickenlooper said. “We’re going to celebrate for a day – and then get right back to working to be first in the nation.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
