Mayor Brian de Pena was sworn in as mayor of the City of Lawrence at a public inauguration ceremony that included speeches, prayers and the formal swearing-in of city councilors and school committee members.

The ceremony opened with a moment of silence for Domingo Romano, a Lawrence High School teacher, followed by the posting of colors and the pledge of allegiance led by Jairus Martinez. Local leader Joe Freeman, CEO of Manzo Freeman Development, praised the mayor’s first term and said his company had invested "$70,000,000" in the Everett Mill/stone mill campus, creating about 86 apartments and roughly 90 businesses.

State Representative Frank Moran urged the newly sworn officials to carry out their duties with civility and humility, invoking the city’s history including the 1912 Bread and Roses strike as an example of collective civic action. Moran told officials to "never forget where you came from, why you first decided to run for office and the purpose that called you to serve."

In his remarks, Mayor Brian de Pena thanked supporters, recounted school and infrastructure concerns he said his administration had addressed, and laid out continued priorities for education and public safety. He referenced several project and budget figures during his remarks and emphasized neighborhood investment and outreach to diverse communities.

Congresswoman Lori Trahan praised Lawrence’s immigrant history and described the mayor’s work as coalition-building across levels of government, saying the city’s progress requires continued federal, state and local cooperation on housing, lead mitigation and workforce development.

Paul Iannicello, registrar of deeds, announced that the November 4, 2025 election results had been certified and administered the oath of office to Mayor Brian de Pena. Following the mayor’s swearing, numerous elected and appointed officials took oaths, including Anna Levy, Selena Reyes and Giovanni Rodriguez (councilors at large); district councilors Franklin Miguel, Rosalie Gonzalez and Gregory Del Rosario; school committee members Jonathan Guzman, Alaia Quinn Gannell and Jessica Ramirez; and Greater Lawrence Technical School Committee members Zoila Disla, Julio Mejia and Edinson Mercedes. The program also noted three recently appointed school committee members: Donna Bertolino, Jesus Suriel and Michael Armano.

The Reverend Israel Rodriguez offered a benediction for the officials and the city, and Charlotte Pascual closed the program by performing "God Bless America." Organizers invited attendees to a post-ceremony reception at 354 Mary Mac Street, Salvatore's.

What happened next: the program concluded and invited attendees to the reception; no formal votes or new policy actions were taken during the event.