Second, we acknowledge that individual opportunity is the most powerfu — Tim Kaine

"I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me. With the support of God and my family, I pledge my energy and enthusiasm to the mission of serving this Commonwealth."

"First, we reaffirm the necessity of courage. This is the defining trait of those who came to Virginia aboard the Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant, landing just a few miles from this place at Jamestown Island in 1607. They knew that earlier efforts, by the Spanish and English, to establish settlements in this region had ended in disaster. But they crossed treacherous seas to arrive at a new world because they understood the need to do and to dare. Their survival and success depended upon bold leadership. We must be equally bold to tackle the challenges of our day."

"And third, we recognize that our destiny is a shared destiny and that our commitment to community is a condition of our advancement. Our Virginia might not exist today were it not for the generosity extended to those first settlers by the native Virginia tribes living in this region. Without the hospitality of Chief Powhatan or the compassion of Pocahontas, those in Jamestown would have perished. Throughout Virginia’s history, we have succeeded only when we have welcomed all to the table of Thanksgiving."

"That same sense of community is required of us today. We must include all Virginians in our efforts. We should continue to welcome newcomers to this Commonwealth and nation, just as Chief Powhatan did 400 years ago."

"Our challenges today are different than those faced by the Jamestown settlers, or the first Virginia governors. But they require fidelity to the same values. We may not have new geographic worlds to discover, but there are still worlds of research and knowledge, of information and creativity, of commerce and service, of reconciliation and brotherhood, that await our exploration."

"Together, let us find answers through a dialogue that is shaped not simply in terms of dollars and cents, but also by new solutions and common sense. A lack of coordination and planning has us stuck where we are today. Let it not be fear and politics that leaves us stranded here."