It was a hand-off with a hug.
Meriden Democrat Christopher Donovan was sworn into office Wednesday by outgoing House Speaker James Amann of Milford.
Amann handed a wooden gavel to Donovan and also gave him a hug. Donovan was first elected to the House in 1993. Mansfield Rep. Denise Merrill now replaces Donovan as House majority leader.
Brooklyn Sen. Donald Williams Jr. was also re-elected by the Senate as the president. Late last year, Democrats picked Sen. Martin Looney of New Haven as their majority leader.
Copyright The Associated Press
