Rogers Takes Office with Mother by His Side

State Rep. Dave Rogers was sworn in to office Wednesday, Jan. 2, in front of family and friends.

Rogers, a first-time candidate who claimed a decisive victory over Independent Jim Gammill and Republican Tomi Olson in November, wrote that it was especially poignant for him to have his mother, Maxine Fitzgerald Rogers, sitting next to him during the ceremony in the House of Representatives Chamber on Beacon Hill.

“She just turned 92,” he wrote in an email, "and is an inspiration to our entire family for the way that she held us all together and moving in a positive direction after my dad died young, leaving her with seven children.”

Rogers, of Cambridge, wrote that his first day in office was largely a day of “pomp and circumstance.” However, the House Democrats did choose Robert DeLeo as Speaker once again, and the Republicans selected Brad Jones as Minority Leader again too.

Rogers also wrote that he’s looking forward to the year ahead.

“I am deeply honored to represent the amazing people of Arlington and the entire 24th Middlesex District,” he wrote. “Please know that I am already busily working on your behalf in pursuit of our shared values and in fact have been doing so since right after the election.

“It promises to be a busy year in the State House with many important legislative initiatives ahead. I also want to again thank my family and the many friends and supporters in Arlington and across the district who made this day possible.”

The 24th Middlesex District, which was left vacant by now state Sen. Will Brownsberger after his special-election win in December 2011, includes precincts 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12 in Arlington (which all border Route 2), all of Belmont and precincts 1 and 3 in Cambridge.