Diary of a new state representative

Date: 2/2/2009

Reminder Publications asked Brian Ashe, the new State Representative for the Second Hampden District, to keep a diary of the day of his swearing in at the State House in Boston. This is the diary from the events of being sworn into the 186th General Court on Jan. 7.

6 a.m. -- Alarm clock goes off. My wife Sonja wakes up.

7 a.m. -- Sonja alarms me to wake up.

7:35 a.m. -- WHYN interview.

8 a.m. -- Walk to the State House in the rain.

9 to 10 a.m. -- Breakfast reception with other freshmen representatives in the House of Flags room.

10:05 a.m. -- Democrat Caucus in which Sal DiMasi is nominated to be Speaker of the House. Sal DiMasi addresses the caucus. Meanwhile, Sonja takes my two children on a tour of the State House.

11:15 a.m. -- House Floor session begins.

11:55 a.m. -- Sworn in by Gov. Patrick

12:02 p.m. -- First official vote; I voted for Sal DiMasi for Speaker of the House.

12:20 p.m. -- Brief recess.

12:40 p.m. -- Family photo in front of the House podium.

12:45 p.m. -- House members return back to their respective seats.

12:50 p.m. -- Speaker DiMasi addresses the goings on the House floor. My wife and kids sneak off the floor to eat lunch, while I'm starving, yet feeling humble and joyful and in awe of the whole situation on the floor. I look around as I'm welcomed by former members as they explain the extent to how much history is in this building and the row in which my seat is located. Powerful figures such as John Adams, John F. Kennedy and Sam Adams have all been here.

1:05 p.m. -- Finish welcoming new members.

1:15 p.m. -- Minority Leader speaks and stresses the importance of the two parties in the House and urges for more bipartisan efforts during this next session.

1:25 p.m. -- The Clerk, Steven James, is sworn in. Finneran, former Speaker of the House, introduces himself and told me that I'm sitting in his former seat in the chamber.

1:30 p.m. -- I was called upon to go to the Senate Chamber to let them know that the House has elected the Chair and the Clerk.

1:40 p.m. -- Wrap up, I go and eat. My seat is in the fourth division, fourth row, fourth seat, which is Speaker DiMasi's old seat and a former Chairman's seat.

2 p.m. -- I meet my wife and kids and leave the State House and travel back home in the sleet and rain to my home in Longmeadow.