Chanukah's lights are out, Christmas is near,

State and city government transitions are here.

Your faithful scribe's head spins as he watches the meetings,

And takes careful notes as to whom should get greetings.

Some things are mysterious but one fact couldn't be clearer:

We dare hope politics here is entering a new era.

Linc Almond's governorship is ending after a run of eight years,

(Don't expect casino promoters to shed any tears.)

Governor-elect Don Carcieri's style promises more vigor,

Expectations of him could hardly be bigger.

Welcome to the new first lady, a woman named Sue,

From her prominent platform, there's plenty to do.

Guiding Carcieri's transition has been ad man Dave Duffy,

If you've missed out on a job, try not to get huffy.

Deborah Smith is in charge of inaugural events,

Having to mobilize legions of ladies and gents.

On Carcieri's staff, Ken McKay will have the top seat,

Bob Higgins will run Administration, across Smith Street.

For an executive counselor the new gov chose a bright light:

From the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce,

here's Laurie White.

Defrost those latkes, fry them nice and light,

Those departing the stage can have a last bite.

Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse wanted to be gov,

But Democratic primary voters didn't return his love.

New AG Patrick Lynch could go far,

After all, in college, he was a basketball star.

Ed Inman is out as secretary of state,

A friendship with John Harwood sealed his electoral fate.

Matt Brown is the new secretary, he worked hard for the slot,

But I'd bet he'd rather be gov or senator - oh, by a lot.

Buddy Cianci has left the Biltmore and is away for awhile,

New Mayor David Cicilline will bring the office some style.

He'll be helped by staffers whose motives are true:

Mike Mello, Carol Grant, and Carolyn Benedict-Drew.

Senators Jack Reed and Linc Chafee sometimes lack might,

But no one's ever accused them of being captives of the right.

Congressmen Kennedy and Langevin vote liberal too,

Which most of their constituents believe is their due.

Hillary Clinton helped Patrick in a fundraising way

At Ira and Suzanne Magaziner's estate by the Bay.

Roll out the Yule log, the State House is afire,

With hopes for reform climbing higher and higher.

You knew Harwood would have to leave as speaker,

His grip on the office got weaker and weaker.

You can thank Wendy Collins for telling her story,

Even though at times it got pretty gory.

Cheers to Bruce Bayuk, who ran as a write-in,

Nearly winning a House seat, going down fightin'.

Now comes Bill Murphy to preside and hold power,

He's as skilled as Harwood but not quite so dour.

In deciding what bills pass and where everyone parks,

Murphy can tap Majority Leader Gordon Fox.

Congrats to Rep. Charlene Lima, fulfilling a dream,

It's rare for a woman to be on the leadership team.

We'll miss Tony Pires, who leaves the House scene;

He wanted to be governor, but his treasury was lean.

Republicans plod on, sometimes sounding like lawmen,

Consider, for instance, Bob Watson, Nick Gorham.

Joe Trillo has locked up a Warwick seat for life,

(You may know the former Marilyn Cocozza, his wife.)

Wrap up the packages, adorn them with bows,

Members of the state Senate are political to their toes.

From now on, call Bill Irons "Mr. President,"

Ambition in him is forever resident.

A special message to you, our ever faithful reader,

Joe Montalbano is to become majority leader.

Several solons should be cited for remarkable feats:

In spite of downsizing, they held onto their seats.

Teresa Paiva Weed of Newport heads up the bill,

Maryellen Goodwin remains champ of Smith Hill.

And Mary Parella proved hot as a pistol

In a district combining Portsmouth and Bristol.

Farewell to Charles Walton, who had a golden career,

And welcome to Juan Pichardo, a freshman without peer.

Republican Dave Bates is hard-working, he doesn't take no,

But why don't the Democrats give him a foe?

A loyalty prize, please, for Minority Leader Dennis Algiere,

To bang his head against the wall, he drives from Westerly to here.

A familial award for legislators of unusual rank:

The brothers Caprio: Representative David, Senator Frank.

With judges like Frank Williams, Joe Rodgers, Ted Gale,

In the state court system, justice will prevail.

Over in Federal Court, Judge Ernest Torres presides,

Which helps explain where Cianci resides.

Torres could have overturned the verdict of the jury,

But that would have been wrong and touched off a fury.

Operation Plunder Dome left Rhode Island shakin',

Much of the thanks goes to the FBI's Dennis Aiken.

Not to mention of course, the U.S. attorney,

Her name is Meg Curran and she's had quite a journey.

Undercover witness Tony Freitas also deserves some praise,

His taped conversations helped Feds cut through the haze.

We miss prosecutor Richard Rose and his terrific animation;

Richard Egbert is one of the best defense lawyers in the nation.

As we go about our business, we wait for the news

That Frank Corrente has apologized for what he said about Jews.

Acting Mayor John Lombardi runs Providence, he knows the ropes,

The School Board includes Makna Men, Leonard Lopes.

In Cranston, Mayor-elect Steve Laffey faces financial disaster,

It could happen elsewhere, but in this city it's faster.

In the halls of academia, there's a prof of reknown:

Meet Elmer Cornwell, a political scientist at Brown.

He's savvy and experienced, his spirit runs free,

He taught Carcieri, Chafee, Cicilline, Lynch, and me.

Sergei Khrushchev teaches there too, with great persistence ó

Well, after all, he traveled quite a distance.

At URI's Ryan Center, look up at the heights,

And watch chief ram Bob Carothers take in the sights.

To have an election you need pollsters, commentators, and aides,

Junkies love doing it, even when glamour fades:

Melba Depena, Gonzalo Cuervo, Barbara Trainor, Darrell West,

Larry Berman, Chris Bizzacco, Ann Gooding meet the test.

Joe Fleming, Serena Conley, Deb Brayton, Nellie Gorbea,

Steve Hourahan, Maureen Moakley, Amy Gabarra make our day.

Don't forget the lobbyists, who make the system go:

Joe Walsh, Judy Jones, Bob Goldberg, Bill Devereaux.

Journalists like Jim Taricani and Deb Becker tell us the news,

And do it objectively, without interjecting their views.

Susan Farmer and Sheldon Sollosy will be an applause-winning pair

If they can keep Channel 36 flourishing on the air.

Knowing it takes gelt to put the economy on its feet,

It's reassuring to see Neil Steinberg's at Fleet.

Barbara Cottam at Citizens does a job that's first-rate,

And BankRI's Merrill Sherman is one of the best in the state.

Another visible business exec is John Hazen White Jr.,

He'll be running for governor, later or sooner.

Labor lost with Myrth York but remains a big force,

Frank Montanaro and George Nee keep it on course.

At Angelo's, owner Bob Antignano greets you with fervor,

And Christine Manfredi is the world's greatest server.

An entertainment troupe whose comedy will leave you rollin',

Is the Ocean State Follies with Charlie Hall, Patti Nolin.

Narragansett Chief Matthew Thomas has a plan for your buck,

Though a casino is harmful to people down on their luck.

If you give to the Community Food Bank you'll feel much better,

Send Bernie Beaudreau or Rosie Connors a check and a letter.

Peg Langhammer and Deb DeBare work to eliminate violence,

The Urban League's Dennis Langley seeks to build self-reliance.

Child advocate Laureen D'Ambra fights for kids who are at risk,

Barbara Fields Karlin promotes affordable housing through LISC.

Al Klyberg gives us a museum, Frank Lennon a sub,

Providence should grab Boston's title of Hub.

Among folks here who've toiled to brighten the day,

Are Tony Maione and Jennifer Robinson at NCCJ.

May the new year bring everyone happiness and health,

And the blessing of peace would give us all wealth.

M. Charles Bakst, The Journal's political columnist, can be reached by e-mail at mbakst@projo.com