I begin my second term as Attorney General with renewed determination and great enthusiasm. I wanted to share the remarks I gave at my inauguration today at the State Capitol, which convey that attitude:

Justice O'Connor, Governor Napolitano, ladies and gentlemen.

Good morning and a Happy New Year to you all.

I would like to specially thank my son Kevin for his able assistance today and my wife Monica for all her support and great advice.

I am grateful to Arizona voters for affirming my leadership of the Attorney General’s Office and for giving me the privilege of serving a second term with the dedicated men and women who protect our State and its citizens.

My first job after law school, over 30 years ago, was as a prosecutor in the Attorney General’s Office. I admired then its tradition of legal excellence and independent, non-partisan leadership. To return as its leader is the realization of what, to that young prosecutor, seemed an unattainable goal.

Usually, I describe the mission of the Attorney General in terms of what we fight AGAINST – crime, obviously; and more specifically against the frauds, abuses, deceptions, smugglings and financial schemes that keep us so busy.

But, it seems backward to emphasize the negative in describing the work that I and the men and women of our Office believe is so positive. After all, it’s the picture of an old western lawman in a white hat, making the frontier safe, which hangs proudly at the main entrance of our building.

This morning, in the spirit of the New Year and the new term, I'd like to emphasize what I and my Office stand FOR.

We are FOR making the playing field in the Arizona marketplace level for all consumers, free from deception, scams and other rip-offs.

We are FOR building on our Office's reputation for excellent legal advice so there is no doubt that we provide more than 150 state agencies, boards and commissions the finest representation in the land.

We are FOR going the extra mile to prevent crimes and making Arizonans the most knowledgeable consumers and Internet subscribers in the Nation, especially targeting the most vulnerable – our children and our seniors.

We are FOR keeping our State free of discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for every citizen.

And most importantly, we are FOR keeping our neighborhoods and communities safe and FOR making Arizona – the fastest growing and most dynamic state in America – an even better place to live, to retire and to invest.

I eagerly look forward to serving the next four years as your Attorney General.

Terry Goddard