


To the surprise of no one, the 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts convened this week and elected the same exact leadership it had under the previous Legislature.
“As you enter this historic chamber, always remember the path that brought you here, and the people and places you represent. On this journey of service we are joined by so many who have helped along the way,” said the Dean of the House, Rep. Kevin Honan, a Democrat from Suffolk to open the proceedings.
After acknowledging the work of several long serving members of the House staff, Honan accepted the report of Secretary of State William Galvin declaring the elected members of the new Legislature and sent a committee to look for Gov. Charlie Baker to swear in members.
Baker was unsurprisingly engaged just then, in the midst of swearing in the Upper Chamber, where five new members joined 34 returning senators. One elected senator was absent due to military service obligations.
“Moments like this that are not amid the hubbub of the day, we all have the chance to appreciate the significance of public service and public life,” Baker said before swearing in the 39 senators and heading to the House.
Senate Pres. Karen Spilka was reelected to a third term as leader of that body by a vote of 36 to 3, though her only opposition, Gloucester Republican Sen. Bruce Tarr, called for the vote to be held as unanimous after his defeat.
House Speaker Ron Mariano, a Quincy Democrat, returns for a second term leading the lower chamber.
“Thank you everybody. For those who voted for me, thank you, and for those who didn’t, thank you very much. You voted for a worthy adversary in Brad Jones,” Mariano said.