Republican sworn in as N.J. governor

TRENTON, N.J. — Republican Chris Christie was sworn in Tuesday as New Jersey’s 55th governor, vowing to deliver the far-reaching change he said voters elected him to bring about.

“You voted loudly and clearly for change, and you have entrusted us with what may be our last, best hope for a stronger New Jersey, the New Jersey of our youth, full of hope and opportunity,” Mr. Christie said in his inaugural address. “New Jersey, you voted for change, and today change has arrived.”

Mr. Christie takes over a state plagued by the nation’s highest taxes, a deficit that could hit $10 billion by July and unemployment near 10 percent.

Mr. Christie’s swearing-in marked another reminder of President Obama’s vulnerability on the same day another Northeastern election could derail parts of his agenda.

On Tuesday, Democrats nervously watched the Senate contest in Massachusetts, where Republican Scott Brown threatened to take the seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy. Mr. Obama campaigned for Democrat Martha Coakley, and a loss would break the Democrats’ filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the Senate.

Mr. Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. campaigned for Gov. Jon Corzine in the fall, but it wasn’t enough for him to beat Mr. Christie. The loss was the first blow to Mr. Obama, followed by a Republican in Virginia winning the only other governor’s race in November.

Mr. Christie, a 47-year-old former federal prosecutor, ran on a platform of smaller government and took shots at Mr. Corzine, a former Wall Street executive, for what he called poor economic stewardship. But Mr. Christie was criticized during the campaign for remaining vague about how he would solve New Jersey’s chronic fiscal problems.

He seized on the dual themes of voter discontent and change in his 33-minute inaugural address.

“Rarely in New Jersey’s history have we faced the challenges we face today,” Mr. Christie said. “There is fear and uncertainty, but fear and uncertainty are not necessary and do not have to be permanent. We have the tools for a brighter future, if we change direction.”

Mr. Corzine was on hand to witness his successor take the oath of office. Former Govs. Brendan Byrne, Tom Kean Sr., Christine Todd Whitman, Jim Florio, Don DiFrancesco and Dick Codey also were in the front row.

Mr. Christie takes charge of a government dominated by Democrats waiting to see exactly how he will balance the budget without breaking his campaign pledge to not raise taxes and to roll back others. New Jersey homeowners pay the nation’s highest taxes, an average of $7,045 a year.

At a Mass on Tuesday morning at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, Archbishop John Myers said Mr. Christie will need the wisdom of Solomon.

Donald Trump also attended the Mass in Newark, Mr. Christie’s birthplace.

“He’s going to be a great governor, which New Jersey could use. He will go down as the best governor there is,” Mr. Trump said, adding that the two had been friends for a long time.

After the swearing in, Mr. Christie headed to the governor’s mansion in Princeton for a private lunch. An evening cocktail reception at the Prudential Center in Newark was planned.

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