Indiana Governor-elect Mike Pence meets with voters in Dillsboro prior to the November 2012 election. file photo

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana will officially have its first new governor in eight years Monday.

Republican Mike Pence’s inauguration will be held on the steps of the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Pence will take the oath of office with his hand on President Benjamin Harrison's Bible.

The former 6^th District U.S. congressman who once represented a portion of Dearborn County in Washington will be Indiana’s 50th governor, taking over for two-term governor Mitch Daniels. Daniels, who is set to start his new job as the president of Purdue University this month, will attend the inauguration ceremonies.

Pence credited Daniels for leaving the state in good fiscal shape. One of Pence’s most common campaign promises was taking Indiana “from good to great.”

“A lot of our states, even some of our neighboring states here in the Midwest, are struggling with how they are even going to balance their budgets. There are states that have raised taxes in recent years. Indiana is in a different position, but that doesn’t invite us to rest on our laurels,” Pence said.

The new governor called Daniels’ time in office “a great season of reform.” His job, Pence said, will be to take Indiana from reform to results.

Pence says he has begun conversations with leaders and members of the General Assembly and expects a collaborative process between the executive branch and the legislative branch.  

 The former US Congressman’s biggest initiative as he takes office is a proposed ten percent cut in the state personal income tax rate.

“I think Indiana has choices, because we have a record budget surplus,” he said. “I think we have an opportunity that we ought to meet again by passing another honestly balanced budget.

Pence will deliver his first State of the State speech on Tuesday, January 22.