Newly Elected Officials to Take Oaths of Office
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The county's new sheriff will be sworn in on Wednesday, Jan. 5, at the Berkshire County Courthouse on East Street in Pittsfield and two new state representatives for the Berkshires will be welcomed in the House of Representatives beginning at 11 a.m. at the State House.
Sheriff-elect Thomas N. Bowler, who resigned as a Pittsfield Police detective on Sunday, will be given the oath of office by Berkshire Superior Court Judge John A. Agostini in the second-floor courtroom. Bowler, a newcomer to elected office, sailed to victory last September in the Democratic primary against outgoing Rep. Daniel E. Bosley of North Adams.
The public is invited to the event and to a reception afterward from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Crowne Plaza ballroom, where Bowler held his victory party. The veteran officer replaces Sheriff Carmen C. Massimiano, who held the post for 32 years.
Bosley's replacement for the 1st Berkshire District in the State House, Gailanne Cariddi of North Adams, and Paul W. Mark of Hancock, who is stepping into the shoes of outgoing 2nd District Rep. Denis E. Guyer of Dalton, will join some 40 new representatives from both sides of the aisle.
The ceremony, which runs from 11 a.m. to about 1 p.m., will include the election of House speaker and Senate president; no one is challenging House Speaker Robert DeLeo or Senate President Therese Murray. Gov. Deval Patrick will administer the oaths of office and both DeLeo and Murray will address the lawmakers present.
(Patrick will be sworn in for a second term, the first governor in 16 years to do so, on Thursday, Jan. 6.)
Also being sworn in for the 187th General Court are incumbents Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lee, Rep. Christopher N. Speranzo, D-Pittsfield, and Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield.
A reception will follow at the State House.
iBerkshires will be attending both events, so look for photos and news updates through the day.
