Guest, lawmakers and state officers attend a private, $1,000-a-plate dinner at the Illinois State Capitol Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield Ill. Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - From a museum visit to a swanky $1,000-a-plate dinner at the Illinois Capitol on Sunday, Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner spent his last day before assuming the governorship celebrating and thanking supporters.
The Winnetka businessman will take the oath of office as Illinois' 42nd governor Monday, the first Republican to hold that position since George Ryan left in 2003. Rauner told attendees at Sunday's dinner - including numerous elected officials, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Samuel Skinner and Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago - that it was time to enjoy the festivities because there was a lot of work ahead.
"We are on the verge of a major transformation of our state," he said in his brief remarks. "This is our home. We deserve so much better than we've had for the last decade."
Roughly 800 people attended, with tables set up outside the office that will soon be Rauner's. Attendees, who feasted on "deconstructed Caesar salad" and marinated beef tenderloin, also got bottles of wine to take home. Cupich offered a blessing.
Others in the crowd included Senate President John Cullerton, Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, congressmen and state lawmakers. The event followed a cocktail reception, a veterans job fair and a visit with children at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, which was open free to the public Sunday as part of the inauguration weekend.
On Monday there will be a morning prayer service, and the swearing in of constitutional officers. Rauner beat Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in November.
After that will be an open house at the Old State Capitol and dinner, capped off by a concert with country star Toby Keith. A $125 admission price for that event that includes food and drink.
Earlier in the day - wearing his trademark open-collar dress shirt and khakis - Rauner visited the museum, but had forgotten his glasses. The 57-year-old couldn't see to read a portion of the book his wife was sharing with a group of young children.
Diana Rauner read "Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers," by Karen Winnick, which tells the true story of an 11-year-old who wrote to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and encouraged him to grow his iconic beard. Diana Rauner asked her husband to read Lincoln's response, but he begged off, despite his wife's promise to "hold it way back."
Rauner laughed when a reporter asked if he had ever grown a beard.
"My beards are very scruffy," the former college football player said. "They look bad. I've had many, but not like Lincoln's."
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Associated Press writers Sophia Tareen and Kerry Lester contributed to this report.
Online:
Illinois Inauguration 2015: http://illinoisinauguration.com/
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Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner, center, talks with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's daughters Lucy, left, and Rebecca, right, during a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield, Ill. Watching from behind are Madigan and Diana Rauner. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Attorney General Lisa Madigan, left, introduces her daughters Lucy, left, and Rebecca, to Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner and his wife Diana, during a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield, Ill. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Behind statues of Abraham Lincoln and his family, Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner, center, and his wife Diana, left, pose for a photos at the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield, Ill. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner, left, and his wife Diana, read to children visiting the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield, Ill. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner, right, and his wife Diana, read to children visiting the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield, Ill. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner smiles as he stands near a statue of Abraham Lincoln, at the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield, Ill. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner, left, laughs with his daughters Elizabeth Rauner-Brewer, center, and Margaret, after they looked at the selfie Rauner took of his family with statues of Abraham Lincoln's family at the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield, Ill. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner, center, laughs with his daughter Stephanie, left, and wife, Diana, as they look at the selfie Rauner took of his family with statues of the Lincoln family, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library in Springfield, Ill. Rauner's inauguration as the 42nd governor of Illinois is Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner takes a selfie with his family and statues of the Lincoln family, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library in Springfield, Ill. Rauner's inauguration as the 42nd governor of Illinois is Monday. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Guest, lawmakers and state officers attend a private, $1,000-a-plate dinner at the Illinois State Capitol Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield Ill. Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Illinois Gov-elect Bruce Rauner speaks to guest, lawmakers and state officers attending a private, $1,000-a-plate dinner at the Illinois State Capitol Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield Ill. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner, right, speaks to guest, lawmakers and state officers attending a private, $1,000-a-plate dinner at the Illinois State Capitol Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield Ill. Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Guest bags are on the back of tables that are set and awaiting guest before a private, $1,000-a-plate dinner at the Illinois State Capitol Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield Ill. Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press
Tables are set and awaiting guest before a private, $1,000-a-plate dinner at the Illinois State Capitol Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Springfield Ill. Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner will be inaugurated as Illinois' 42nd governor on Monday. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The Associated Press