Welcome to Portsmouth's new state senator

Sen. Christopher Ottiano, the new state senator from Portsmouth, was formally sworn in today as the 2011 session of the general assembly convened, according to a state house press release this afternoon.

Ottiano was one of seven new members of the Senate who took the oath of office, which was administered to all 38 Senate members by Rhode Island’s Secretary of State, A. Ralph Mollis.

The Senate began its legislative year with a program of activities that included the re-election of Sen. M. Teresa Paiva-Weed as President of the Senate.

Editorial note: Written substantially from a press release.