RALEIGH — Pat McCrory is ready to be sworn in as North Carolina's governor, putting a Republican in the Executive Mansion for the first time in 20 years.

The former Charlotte mayor was slated to take the oath of office Saturday from Chief Justice Sarah Parker during a ceremony in the House chambers of the old Capitol building. Outgoing Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue also will participate.

McCrory will become governor a week before the public inauguration ceremony slated for downtown Raleigh because he wanted to be installed as the Legislature convenes its two-year session this coming Wednesday. He'll still participate in the Jan. 12 inauguration.

McCrory's incoming Cabinet is also supposed to be sworn in Saturday. The new governor will attend a fundraising event Saturday evening for veterans at a Raleigh hotel.