Photos by John Cross
Terry Morrow and daughters Maggie and Sally check the House gallery for friends and family prior to the opening legislative session and swearing-in ceremony Wednesday at the Capitol in St. Paul.
ST. PAUL — For the newly elected members of the Minnesota Legislature, opening day ceremonies were emotional and powerful.
"It was a great day," said Rep. Terry Morrow, DFL-St. Peter.
For the families of newly elected members, the two hours of rituals and organizational activities brought mixed reviews.
"It was long," said Sally Morrow, 10, after watching her father assume his role in state government.
For instance, the session kicks off with a roll call in the House of Representatives. First, all 134 legislative districts are read with each district's representative saying "here" or "present." Then, redundantly, all 134 legislators' names are called alphabetically in a second roll call.
And then there are nominating speeches, and seconding speeches and election of officers and adoption of rules and an escort of the new Speaker of the House to the podium.
Kathy Brynaert visits with her grandson, Christopher Kahl and husband, Tony Filipovitch, at her desk on the floor of the House Wednesday prior to the opening of the new legislative session.
"It was pretty impressive," said Rep. Kathy Brynaert, DFL-Mankato.
"They read boring stuff," said Christopher Kahl, 7, who saw "Nana" Brynaert sworn in.
Despite disagreements about the entertainment value of the event, the first day is inarguably "Family Day" at the Legislature. The floor of the House, always crowded, is jammed with guests.
Judge Ron Abrams, a former lawmaker who administered the oath of office in the House, said the first day of the session was always "the most important day."
"It's the day you had your family and friends who worked so hard to get you here," Abrams said.
And the family members were genuinely pleased as they watched their moms and sons and spouses and aunts become members of the Legislature. Of course, with so much time to kill before and after the actual swearing-in, family members could also be mined for information that isn't public knowledge — biographical data that would never end up on a campaign brochure.
Dan Sheran, for instance, has known Sen. Kathy Sheran for nearly five decades and was asked if there are any childhood memories of his big sister that might have foreshadowed her rise in politics.
Kathy Sheran (left) visits with Kathy Brynaert on the House floor Wednesday prior to the opening of the legislative session when both recently elected lawmakers took the oath of office, Sheran in the Senate and Brynaert in the House.
"Oh dear," Sen. Sheran said as her brother paused.
"The entire family is very proud of her," he said.
But after that diplomatic answer, he didn't need to be pushed too hard to spill one story from when he was 4 years old. Kathy, who was about 15, had been put in charge of the house when her parents were out.
"She paid me 25 cents if I sat in the front entry and watched as a lookout to warn when my parents arrived," Dan Sheran said. "To this date, I've never seen the 25 cents."
"That's a fiscal conservative," said Dean Doyscher, Sheran's husband and campaign manager.
As for why his big sister needed advance warning that their parents were approaching the house?
"That would be conjecture," the Minnetonka attorney said. "However, I was at that age (later), and I can guess."
Laughter and jokes and needling were also prevalent in Brynaert's office, where Christopher, Brynaert's husband Tony Filipovitch, and the couple's three adult daughters were gathered.
They said it was obvious Brynaert was excited long before the session started.
"She was running around like a crazy woman at home," said Alexandra.
"She wanted everything to be perfect," Katriona said.
But the daughters were unanimous in their belief that their mom will be good for state government.
"She's the queen of compromise," Natasha said. "... She tries to think of things the other person wants and what she wants and then find a way that everybody's happy."
That characteristic came into play often during their youth.
"When didn't it come into play?" Natasha said. "TV, bed time, curfew, cookies. ..."
Back outside the House chamber, the session was done and the Morrow girls, along with their mother Martha, were reviewing the events.
Maggie Morrow, 13, was probably in the minority among younger visitors to the session.
"It was just so exciting," Maggie said, suggesting she'd be happy to join her dad for future sessions. "It's so exciting and interesting and new every day."
Sally, on the other hand, said she'd rather be playing soccer. But it was clear she had been paying attention to House procedures when she suggested the family go to a particular St. Paul restaurant for some celebratory hamburgers.
"The Happy Gnome," she proposed. "All those in favor of The Happy Gnome, say 'aye'."
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