Today, Charlie Baker is going to be sworn in as the new governor of Massachusetts.
It’s an exciting time for Baker who has spent years working in Massachusetts state government. Among his jobs: secretary of health and human services and secretary of administration and finance.
Now Baker moves into the executive office, and his “inaugural events — built on the ‘Let’s be great, Massachusetts’ theme of his campaign — will include an interfaith service and concert,” the Boston Globe says, adding:
“When Baker moves into his office on the third floor of the State House, he’ll honor one of his predecessors by placing his or her portrait over the mantel.”
Baker also received four parting gifts that, the Globe explains, “traditionally pass from the outgoing governor to the successor.” They are:
1. The pewter key to the governor’s office
2. Former governor Benjamin Butler’s Bible, which he first bestowed in 1884
3. The governor’s gavel, made from oak taken from the USS Constitution, and,
4. The Massachusetts General Statutes, in which the departing governor usually inscribes a message to the governor-elect
The inauguration will include residents and organizations from around the state. According to the Lowell Sun, “The Angkor Dance Troupe won’t be the only Lowell institution to represent the city at Gov.-elect Charlie Baker’s inauguration festivities… The Lowell High School Air Force Junior ROTC has been invited to join in the celebration, and 20 of its elite honor-guard members will attend the entrance and swearing-in ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. and noon Thursday.”
CapeCod.com reports that the “CJazz” ensemble composed of students from the Cape Conservatory will perform; as will Springfield High School’s SciTech Band, according to MassLive.com.
The inaugural activities will stretch through the weekend when Baker travels to Western Massachusetts.
“Baker will visit the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams and the Soldier On veterans facility in Pittsfield on Saturday with incoming Lieutenant Gov. Karyn Polito,” the Berkshire Eagle says, adding:
“Baker and Polito are participating in a number of public ‘Spotlight on Excellence’ events across the state from Wednesday through Saturday as part of the 2015 Inaugural Celebration.
“Spotlight on Excellence events revisit several locations that Baker visited during his campaign to showcase the venue’s innovative solutions to complex issues that were highlighted in the campaign such as jobs, schools and communities.
“They are intended to highlight Baker’s pledge to boost job creation, innovate schools and strengthen communities across the state.”
Once the festivities end, of course, there will be a great deal to do. As Baker said in a holiday season message posted on his Facebook page:
“This year has been a special one, and the work that lies ahead of us is critically important and enormously challenging. I look forward to the opportunity to serve, and am enormously grateful to the voters of Massachusetts for giving me that chance.”
At Strategies for Children, we look forward to working with Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito, Education Secretary Jim Peyser, and other members of this brand new administration to ensure that children in Massachusetts get a strong start.
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