Corbett

HARRISBURG — Tom Corbett mingled Wednesday with relatives and friends at his new home — the 30-plus-room governor’s residence — on his first day as Pennsylvania’s new governor, even though he and his wife spent the night of his inauguration in the one-bedroom apartment they’re leaving behind.

“We’ll spend the night now, starting tonight,” at the state-owned residence, Corbett said in an interview in the governor’s offices inside the Capitol, explaining that his wife Susan was still doing last-minute packing Wednesday afternoon.

The Corbetts, who have two grown children, plan to live in the mansion in downtown Harrisburg that overlooks the Susquehanna River, but will also keep the family’s farmhouse in suburban Pittsburgh, he said.

Appearing relaxed and confident after a long day of ceremony and celebration including the inaugural ball at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo until the wee hours of Wednesday, Corbett reflected on his responsibilities as the state’s 46th chief executive and talked about some of his high-priority items as he builds his administration.

He said his top advisers are sifting through a mountain of recommendations from his 400-member transition team as he prepares to present his first budget to the Legislature on March 8. Corbett, a Republican, has vowed to balance the budget without raising taxes, despite a projected deficit of at least $4 billion for the year that starts July 1.

Corbett did not reveal details, but commended the volunteers who did the work. “They did a wonderful job, they took it very seriously,” he said. “They worked very hard, all for free.”

Corbett also said he hopes to announce nominees for the last five seats in his Cabinet “in the next week or two,” and that he intends to finish those before naming a candidate to serve the two years left in his term as attorney general. William H. Ryan Jr., Corbett’s former chief deputy, automatically became acting attorney general when Corbett was sworn in as governor.

Corbett said former Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat who stepped down Tuesday after having served the maximum two terms allowed by law, left a “private” welcoming gift for the Corbetts at the governor’s residence. Rendell also left a personal note for his successor, who held up the envelope for reporters but said the contents were private.

“It was a kind gesture,” Corbett said. “Some nice suggestions.”