FAIRMONT — Family and some close friends of newly elected Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, joined him at the Marion County Courthouse for a small swearing-in ceremony Monday morning.
“It’s certainly an honor to have the trust and the confidence of the people of the 13th Senatorial District.,” Caputo said after Circuit Judge David Janes led him in reciting the oath of office.
Caputo’s wife, Tina, held the Bible for him. And his daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Sagar Manania, stood with them in front of the judges bench to witness the ceremony.
Jessica held new son, Kiaan, during the ceremony and Caputo cradled Kiaan in his arms when he stepped aside to answer a few press questions. Looking at his grandson, he said, “This is what West Virginia’s all about – making a better place for our kids and our grandkids.”
Caputo explained before the ceremony that this was not his official swearing-in; that will take place at the Capitol this week. But with the pandemic limiting travel and large gatherings, he wanted to be able to have something local for his friends and family.
He also noted that Marion elected officials typically hold a mass swearing-in ceremony in Janes’ courtroom, with food afterward, but the pandemic also made that impossible.
Caputo will be at the Capitol on Wednesday when the Legislature meets for a day to formalize leadership and take care of some other housekeeping matters. This was a gubernatorial election year so the full 60-day session will being a month later, on Feb. 10.
This will be Caputo’s first session in the Senate after serving 24 years in the House of Delegates. But he aims to serve as he always has, he said, offering the best constituent services possible, answering all calls and emails and talking with the people of his district.
“It’s not about me,”he said. “It’s about the people that chose me as their representative, and doing what I think the majority of them would like me to do.”
He’ll service on the Judiciary Committee (every senator serves on either Judiciary or Finance, the two chief committees), along with Government Organization, Military and Workforce.
He mentioned a couple things he believes the Legislature will need to focus on. One is healing from the pandemic, which means protecting the people as best we can, healing small businesses that have suffered, and the families that have lost loved ones.
The other is healing the nation, especially in light of last week’s assault on the U.S. Capitol. “I think people want us to come together. I think the partisan politics and the partisan bickering has to stop, and it has to stop immediately. … I think we need to remember who elects us and who we’re supposed to represent.”
The GOP majority grew to a 23-11 supermajority in the November election, which means the Republicans will be able to run any agenda it wants.
“I think we’re going to do our best to advance and try to work toward compromise,” he said, “and hope that the majority party does not rule with a strong arm and ram things through that their personal agenda wants.”
He hopes both sides can advance some legislation that can generate mutual buy-in, he said. The chief focus will likely be the budget (the only bill the Legislature is constitutionally required to pass).
Being financially prudent in an economy still reeling from the pandemic will be a particular challenge, he said. “ That’s going to take an all-out effort from both Republicans and Democrats to do that.”
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