Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, Adjutant General for Oregon, salute the Oregon National Guard joint color guard outside the Oregon State Capitol in Salem during Kitzhaber's inauguration ceremony Monday.

SALEM (AP) Oregons newly elected co-speakers are presenting a united front, stressing their unity and expressing optimism that theyll find bipartisan compromise and avoid gridlock.

Republican Bruce Hanna, of Albany, and Democrat Arnie Roblan, of Coos Bay, were chosen by their colleagues Monday to share the speakers job a first in Oregon, necessitated by a 30-30 tie between Republicans and Democrats in the chamber.

We want appearances and actions to show that we are equal, Hanna told reporters in a joint news conference with Roblan.

The election of two speakers wasnt the only first Monday. Gov. John Kitzhaber was sworn in for an unprecedented third term after an eight-year hiatus from public life. And Sen. Peter Courtney was chosen for a fifth consecutive term as Senate president; nobody has ever held the job for more than four terms.

Kitzhaber, a former emergency room doctor who once called Oregon ungovernable as he finished what  most people expected to be his final term in office nearly a decade ago, laid out lofty goals to transform the way government thinks and operates.

Before he can get there, however, hell have to tackle a $3.5 billion budget deficit.

We should not underestimate the magnitude of these challenges; but at the same time we should never never question our ability to successfully meet them, Kitzhaber said. I am here to tell you that we can and that we will.

Kitzhaber, clad in brown boots and blue jeans, a dark coat and red tie, took the oath of office alongside his girlfriend, Cylvia Hayes.

Accomplishing Kitzhabers goals will depend on his ability to work with the 76th Legislature, which also convened for the first time Monday and which could be on course for gridlock.

With a tied House and no tie-breaking provision, no piece of legislation can get to Kitzhabers desk without support from both parties. Still, the House overcame a key hurdle Monday, successfully organizing to begin work after lawmakers voted 57-3 to approve rules governing the next six months.

Kitzhabers third gubernatorial election was his closest. He defeated Republican Chris Dudley, a political newcomer and former professional basketball player, 49 percent to 48 percent.

Kitzhabers inaugural address focused largely on the economy and the states precarious budget situation.

Oregon spends too much on fixing problems after theyve arisen on prisons, courts, foster care and other services and not enough on investments like education that could keep people away from the criminal justice system and state-funded services, Kitzhaber said.

We have our priorities backward, and the central challenge facing Oregon today is to reverse this trend, Kitzhaber said.

Kitzhaber said he would focus on creating jobs and raising per-capita income above the national average, working not just on job growth in the Portland area but also in rural areas and in minority communities.

I want, in fact I expect, to be held accountable by the citizens of Oregon for making significant progress toward that goal during my term, he said.

The new governor said he will announce some of his budget recommendations Friday.

Kitzhaber appealed for civility in the face of political divisions that can turn tragically toxic, such as the Saturday shooting in Arizona that killed six and wounded 14 in what authorities say was an assasination attempt targeting U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Let each of us choose to turn away from that path because the challenges we face dwarf those divisions, Kitzhaber said. Let us debate; let us disagree; but let us never question each others motives, patriotism or love for Oregon.

Hanna said Kitzhaber has been engaging and contacted Republicans for input shortly after winning the election.

I as an Oregonian will be aplauding if he follows through on those issues that he seems to be focusing on, Hanna said.

Now that the House has adopted power-sharing rules, the next challenge for lawmakers will be rebalancing the current budget, which expires June 30. The House and Senate will take two weeks off before reconvening Feb. 1.

Kitzhaber continued Democrats dominance of the governors office. The party has held the position since the 1986 election.