Pat McCrory became North Carolina’s 74th governor, and the state’s first Republican governor since 1988, in a ceremony Saturday.
The former mayor of Charlotte replaced Democrat Bev Perdue, who chose not to seek a second term in office.
“Our goal was not to get a title,” McCrory said. “Our goal was to lead and to serve with a purpose, and that’s what we will begin doing today.”
McCrory last week named Tony Tata to head the state Department of Transportation. Tata previously was the school superintendent in Wake County.
He was fired by the school board after questions were raised about his leadership style.
In related transportation news, North Carolina Turnpike Authority director David Joyner Jr. retired Friday. Joyner had headed the agency since it was formed nearly nine years ago.
