Gov. Charlie Baker spent his ultimate moments within the State House assembly with employees earlier than strolling out of the Corner Office for one final time.
The governor handed via the tall double doorways with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito simply after 5 p.m. He was met by The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, who stood saluting alongside both fringe of a protracted crimson carpet.
He proceeded previous the House Chamber to the highest of the Grand Stair, the place he was met by his ready household and shut associates and supporters. He stopped for handshakes, hugs and selfies, earlier than strolling down the steps and thru the House of Flags into Doric Hall, and eventually exiting via the virtually never-used entrance doorways of the State House.
His journey out of the constructing, a journey of maybe 1,000 toes and a few dozen stairs, took about 40 minutes, practically twice what his employees estimated the day earlier than.
At his exit, he was greeted by a pair of marching corporations and lots of of supporters. The crowd burst into applause as he descended to Beacon Street to the sound of Matchbox Twenty’s “How Far We’ve Come” and a 19-gun salute. “Send Me On My Way,” by Rusted Root, performed as he bought right into a automobile and drove away.
Baker’s journey out of the constructing, a convention for outgoing governors, was preceded by a gathering with incoming Gov. Maura Healey, when he handed over the governor’s official gavel, a key to the governor’s workplace, the Butler Bible, which as soon as belonged to thirty fifth Massachusetts Gov. Benjamin Butler, and a replica of the state’s General Statutes.
Baker additionally gave her a navy problem coin he had acquired from Jared Monti, a soldier from Abington who died in Afghanistan.
Healey stated afterward she was completely happy to take part within the ceremony.
“It’s a part of the history of this great commonwealth,” she stated. “I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Baker leaves workplace with a $5 billion surplus, $7 billion within the wet day fund, a damaged and understaffed however expanded MBTA, a close to utterly internet-connected state, and nearly full pandemic restoration.
He is usually known as the most well-liked governor within the nation, however determined final yr he wouldn’t search a 3rd time period; whether or not the famous reasonable would have been capable of win an additional main in Massachusetts is an open query.
The Swampscott native stated he is not going to go away Massachusetts. He plans to take over the NCAA in February, a place he was capable of land after demonstrating his capability to work with these of differing opinions.
Herald Wire providers contributed.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”