If you go by the Mayan calendar, Friday, December 21, 2012 is the end of the world. If that’s the case, you won’t be reading this in the Westfield News on Saturday. But, just in case the Mayans were wrong, here is this week’s effort.
The first day of the new legislative session begins on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. On that day the Governor will administer the oath of office to all new and returning legislators. We call that taking our oath of office. The Governor will swear in the Senators in the Senate Chamber and the Representatives in the House Chamber. The ceremonies are open to the public and all are welcome to attend and observe if they wish.
Today, I received in the mail my summons to appear in Boston for the session. It read:
“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To Donald F. Humason, Jr. in the County of Hampden. Greetings: Whereas, it appears by the returns of the votes for Representative in the General Court from the Fourth Hampden Representative District made into the office of Our Secretary and examined and certified by Our Governor and Council, agreeably to Our Constitution and Laws, that you the said Donald F. Humason, Jr., have been duly elected a Representative in the General Court for said District, for and during the term of two years from the first Wednesday in January, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and thirteen.
“You are therefore hereby summoned to attend a General Court, to be holden at the Capitol, in Boston, on the first Wednesday of the month of January, being the second day of said month, and to take your seat in the House of Representatives accordingly, that there may be a due assembly of Representatives on said day, for transacting the legislative business pertaining thereto.
“Given at the Council Chamber in Boston, with our Great Seal hereunto affixed, this twenty-eighth day in November, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twelve, and the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
Deval Patrick, By His Excellency the Governor
William Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth”
This will mark the sixth time I will have raised my right hand and sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Although my surroundings at the capitol have grown familiar and the nerves have settled down a great deal since my first day as your State Representative back in 2003, I have never forgotten where I come from and whom I work for. Never will I take this position for granted or ever bring dishonor on myself, my family, or my district.
Long ago I received some good advice: “Take your job seriously not yourself.” These are serious times full of serious matters. Our economy, our debt and deficit, unemployment, decaying transportation infrastructure, out of whack priorities, crime, bloated bureaucracies, bankrupted entitlement programs, taxes; all of these issues will face the newly sworn members of the Great and General Court come January. All are in need of serious consideration and serious resolution.
I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. In light of recent tragedies the spirit, magic, and meaning of Christmas is more important and more necessary now than ever. I look forward to putting work aside for a little while and spending time with my little son and my wife over the holiday. I hope you can enjoy it in some special way as well.
Have a great week.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Maura Cassin may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 568-1366.
Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803.
Email address: [email protected]
Website: www.DonHumason.org
