Marsha Barbour watches as her husband, Haley Reeves Barbour, is sworn in as governor by Chief Justice Edwin Pittman Tuesday in front of the state Capitol in Jackson.(Melanie Duncan Thortis The Vicksburg)

[1/14/04]JACKSON In his first few hours serving as Mississippi’s 63rd governor, Haley Barbour established a citizen commission to assist with judicial appointments and re-established another to lobby for military bases in Mississippi.

Barbour took his oath of office on the Capitol’s south lawn Tuesday before about 5,000 people, including nearly a full slate of state and federal officials.

Between leading a downtown parade ending at the Governor’s Mansion and dancing with his wife, Marsha, at the inaugural ball, Barbour also placed his own financial investments and assets into a blind trust to be overseen by a banker who’s a lifelong friend.

It has been a dozen years since a Mississippi governor used an advisory committee to help make judicial appointments. Barbour said he wanted to establish a committee to help him screen candidates when judicial positions become vacant between elections.

“A fair and impartial judiciary is essential to the protection of the rights and freedoms of the citizens of our state,” Barbour said in a written statement. “Only the most qualified, conscientious, dedicated and reputable people should be appointed to serve the public as judges.”

The committee will screen applicants and make recommendations.

During his 14-minute inaugural address from the steps of the Capitol, Barbour pledged to make job creation the immediate goal of the new administration

“I envision a Mississippi of growth, hope and prosperity, a state that not only produces more and better-paying jobs for our working people, but a home a home that raises up the prospects of all our people and elevates our respect for all our people,” Barbour said.

Air Force jets roared overhead while cannons fired a salute and a National Guard band played the state song. Barbour was joined at the lectern by his wife and was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice Edwin Pittman.

Four of Barbour’s predecessors watched from the stands, including the man he unseated, Democrat Ronnie Musgrove.

“I not only envision Mississippi in new, larger dimensions; I expect it,” Barbour said. “And I urge you to raise your expectations for our state and our people.”

Barbour, a Yazoo City native, made a name for himself in national Republican politics over the past two decades before launching his bid for the governorship last year. He was a political adviser to President Reagan in the 1980s and Republican National Committee chairman from 1993 to 1997, helping engineer the GOP takeover of the U.S. House and Senate in 1994.

He also was a Washington lobbyist whose firm represented big-name clients such as Microsoft and Lockheed Martin.

Barbour defeated Musgrove in the Nov. 4 general election after running the most expensive governor’s campaign in state history.

Other inauguration day events included a prayer breakfast, a reception for foreign dignitaries, a parade, an open house at the Governor’s Mansion and a ball.

Barbour is Mississippi’s second Republican governor since the 1800s. The GOP’s Kirk Fordice, a former Vicksburg construction executive, served from 1992 to 2000.

Spokesman Quinton Dickerson said Barbour also issued an executive order to reauthorize a commission to help Mississippi lobby to keep its military bases open if the federal government conducts another round of base closures.

Barbour, who has said he’s taking a 90 percent pay cut to make $120,000 a year as governor, will have his money managed by Bank of Yazoo City President Griffin Norquist.

Norquist will have the authority to buy, sell and trade assets of the trust, according to a Barbour news release.

The release said a blind trust is not required by state law but is modeled on trusts used by federal officials.

Norquist will not be allowed to talk to Barbour about decisions made about the trust a move designed to prevent conflicts of interest.