SWAMPSCOTT — Swampscott resident Steven James recently announced his retirement as the House Clerk after serving the state loyally and dutifully for 26 years with his last day being on Dec. 31.
With 60 years of public service under his belt, James officially retired yesterday, marking the end of a long era of working alongside the House of Representatives.
According to state Rep. Jenny Armini, James was not merely just a central fixture within the House of Representatives, instead, he managed to master his craft and expertise in a way that is rarely seen.
“Few master an institution so completely as to make themselves indispensable,” she said.
“The fact that the institution is central to our democracy makes Steven James all the more remarkable,” Armini added. She thought of James as one of the kindest, most generous people that she had the privilege of both knowing and working with.
“I feel safe in saying that my colleagues and I will miss him as much personally as we do professionally,” she said.
Armini noted that, yesterday, on the House floor, 16 departing colleagues gave farewell speeches. Every single speaker expressed deep gratitude to James for his work as Clerk throughout his years of service.
State Sen. Brendan Crighton, who knew James for an extensive period of time, also commented on his departure from the House of Representatives. “I’ve known James for a long time, and I can’t say enough about what a good person he is, let alone how good he was with public service,” Crighton said.
He highlighted James’ intimate knowledge of the State House and the processes it must follow. “I’m sure he’ll go on to stay very helpful and active within our community.”
James took a moment to reflect on the impact his legacy had on Swampscott throughout his years of dedicated service. “It’s been a wonderful experience to work in state government,” James said. “It’s been the dream of a lifetime.”
James said his interest in local government goes back to his childhood. “As a teen, I was always interested in government, but never in my wildest dreams would I imagine that I’m at where I am now,” he said.
“I never dreamed that I would go on to be Clerk of the House,” James said. “I never dreamt that I served the community for as long as I have.”
