Susan Bysiewicz completed her last duty as secretary of the state at 10:22 a.m., administering the oath of office to the state Senate and presiding over the chamber until Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, was formally re-elected to his leadership post.
“Good morning, everyone,” Bysiewicz said. “We are calling the Senate to order.”
A year ago, Bysiewicz seemed a strong contender to be governor, but then she jumped into the race for attorney general, only to be told by the Supreme Court she did not meet the statutory requirements for the job. Today, she got to welcome each new senator, congratulate Williams and then exit.
Nancy S. Wyman entered the chamber at 11 a.m. to loud applause. Dan Malloy, still the governor-elect, administered the oath, then left to leave Wyman to her duties as the presiding officer of the Senate.
“We’ve got a long road ahead of us,” Wyman told the packed chamber.
Lt. Gov. Nancy S. Wyman presiding.