[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 8 (Wednesday, February 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E97-E98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   MASSACHUSETTS STATE SENATOR STEVEN A. BADDOUR'S SWEARING IN SPEECH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 6, 2002

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, my good friend Steven A. Baddour was elected 
to the Third Essex Seat of the Massachusetts State Senate in a special 
election held on January 8, 2002. Steve is a former Assistant Attorney 
General for Massachusetts and also served as an Economic Development 
Specialist in my Massachusetts offices.
  On January 23, 2002, Steve delivered his first speech as a State 
Senator. It was an eloquent and moving address. Without objection, I 
submit the text of his remarks:

       Thank You.
       Your Excellency, thank you very much. I look forward to 
     working with you throughout the years to come.
       Mr. President, thank you as well. On behalf of the people 
     of the Third Essex District, I want to thank you for your 
     commitment to democracy and representation. The fact that you 
     scheduled this election, so soon after the resignation of the 
     now Secretary of Public Safety, is proof that you place 
     public service over politics. Thank you.
       Speaking of the Secretary of Public Safety. I want to thank 
     him for his unwavering commitment on behalf of the citizens 
     he represented with such distinction and honor. It is truly 
     an honor for me to succeed by friend and mentor, the 
     Secretary of Public Safety. Please join me in thanking him 
     for all that he has done for the citizens he has so ablely 
     represented.
       Attorney General Tom Reilly--thank you so much for being 
     here and for all that you have done for me. As the leader of 
     the best professional public law office--you have said 
     repeatedly--you expect nothing but the best of your 
     employees--and as the newspapers are reporting day after 
     day--it shows. You are a mentor and a good friend and I am so 
     proud to have worked for you. You gave me a chance and hired 
     me, and more importantly, you gave me an opportunity to 
     represent the entire Commonwealth and fight for working 
     families--a valuable experience that will benefit me and the 
     district that I now represent. To all of the Assistant 
     Attorney General's who are here, thank you for friendship and 
     your commitment to public service. You are the unsung heroes 
     of state government.
       To the local officials who are here today and to those who 
     could not make it, I pledge to you my cooperation and vow to 
     work with you to make our government better for the people we 
     collectively represent.
       I would not be here today if it were not for the support of 
     so many people, actually just about everyone in this room. To 
     those of you whom are here in this historic chamber today for 
     the first time--come back. The energy and enthusiasm you 
     displayed during this campaign is needed in government. Get 
     involved and stay involved. This is your government and your 
     input, now more than ever, is greatly needed.
       I especially want to thank someone whom I love very much 
     and if not for her support I would not be here. I always knew 
     during the campaign and even before that if I had a bad day, 
     I could just go home and get all the support I needed. My 
     wife Ann may be quiet but she is strong and I couldn't ask 
     for a better friend, wife and mother to my child. Ann, thank 
     you.
       My life changed forever in December. And no not because of 
     the election. But because of the birth of my first daughter 
     Isabella. I now know what the term ``daddy's little girl'' 
     means. The first time she looked at me and smiled it was all 
     over. I hope that someday, she smiles at me and says that she 
     is proud of the work I did as a member of the Massachusetts 
     State Senate.
       I also want to thank the members of my family. I learned at 
     a very early age the importance of community. My parents Shae 
     and Phyllis were great role models and I want to thank them 
     for their love and support over the years. They deserve a 
     round of applause because if it were not for their nurturing 
     and encouragement, I would not be here today. My step-mother 
     Marie is also here and I want to thank her for the countless 
     hours she spent on the telephone and for all that she has 
     done for me over the years.
       My brother Shae is also here today with his wife Michelle 
     and their three children, Matthew, Nicole and Shaena. I want 
     to thank them, especially my brother, for always being there 
     when I needed him. He is a great brother, but more 
     importantly a great husband and a super dad.
       To my new colleagues, I look forward to working with each 
     of you. I look forward to building a friendship. Over the 
     next few days, I will be calling each of you to set a meeting 
     where we can sit down and begin to build a friendship as well 
     as a partnership. I look forward to working with you as a 
     productive member of this great body.
       To my supporters I pledge to work everyday fighting for the 
     issues that I campaigned on. Opening the political process, a 
     commitment to education, especially Adult learning, and the 
     list goes on. I am a true believer in the phrase coined by 
     Tip O'Neil that all politics is local and I truly look 
     forward to representing and working for the people of 
     Methuen, North Andover, Haverhill, Salisbury, Merrimac, 
     Amesbury and Newburyport.
       As anyone can tell--the geography of this district is as 
     diverse as its people. And the challenges that lay in the 
     month's ahead could easily make one turn his or her head the 
     other way from public service. But having already worked for 
     the district, having

[[Page E98]]

     represented the Commonwealth as an Assistant Attorney 
     General--I look forward and am excited to meet those 
     challenges head on.
       Today, I stand before you and reiterate the one promise 
     that I made throughout this campaign: I will never forget 
     where I came from.
       I am the son of a working class family and a product of 
     public education from kindergarten through college.
       The daily struggles I witnessed and experienced along with 
     my family, friends and neighbors have made me who I am and 
     have brought me here today.
       I will remain true to that promise and to the commitments I 
     made during this campaign, I will not forget where I came 
     from.

     

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