Prominent guests from state government attended Woonsocket's inauguration ceremony Tuesday night at Stadium Theater, including Gov. Lincoln Chafee and House Speaker Gordon Fox, who swore in Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt.
The dignitaries, including Secretary of State Ralph Mollis, were seated on the theater stage to the audience's left, with Baldelli-Hunt's husband, Ed Hunt, and her sons. They faced a packed crowd in a festive mood given to standing to applaud.
The Master of Ceremonies, former Mayor Charles C. Baldelli, quipped his suit from his days in office was still a good fit and so was Baldelli-Hunt's term of office as Mayor.
As 8 p.m. approached, Baldelli introduced Gordon Fox, who led Baldelli-Hunt in swearing the oath of office as mayor. "Now, the moment we've all been waiting for. Speaker Gordon D. Fox will swear in our new mayor, Lisa Baldelli-Hunt!" Baldelli said.
"I do," Baldelli-Hunt replied as Fox asked if she'd solemnly and legally perform the duties of mayor, supporting the laws and Constitution of the United States. The two ended the ceremony with a handshake, a kiss on the cheek from Baldelli-Hunt, and several members of the crowd standing with applause and cheers.
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