Hours after his opponent in the House race conceded the election, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello stepped up to the microphone on the House floor to welcome the freshman class of legislators.

“You’ve worked hard,” Mattiello, who won by a mere 85 votes, told the freshmen. “And believe me, I know what that’s like.”

After a tight contest for District 15, Republican Steven Frias and State Republican Party chair Brandon Bell filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections alleging violations of state laws governing mail ballots. A recount was completed last week, confirming Mattiello’s win. On Tuesday morning, Frias conceded defeat.

Mattiello’s seemingly off-the-cuff remarks to the freshmen, including Representative-elect Republican Robert Quattrocchi of District 41 (representing Scituate and parts of Cranston), who defeated Michael Marcello, returned often to the theme of conflict.

“You’re never going to please everybody,” he warned them. “This is not a popularity contest. We didn’t get elected to bake cookies; we are here to get things done, be impactful.”

Emphasizing the need for cooperation and respectful discussion and the importance of debate, Mattiello told his audience, “The only thing you get 100 percent agreement on are things that don’t matter so much to people.”

In a brief interview, Mattiello addressed the larger picture of the upcoming session. He said he already started on the first phase of eliminating the car tax, as promised during his campaign. While specifics are being worked out, Mattiello said he would look to increase the current exemption and provide municipalities state aid to offset what they would lose in tax revenues.

“There’s the challenge,” he said of the $215 million that would need to go to municipalities if the tax was completely eliminated. Mattiello is looking to do that over the next five years.

The speaker didn’t think the change in national administrations would affect his continued focus on the state’s economy and job creation.

Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, who also addressed the incoming class of legislators, feels the state’s economy is showing strong signs of turning around. She said the state has made the “investments” in job training and other programs to take advantage of the growth. With a new administration in Washington, she thought there could be changes in policy that would impact federal grants.

“There could be a change to block grants, and that requires states to act differently,” she said.

Mattiello and Paiva Weed both urged their new colleagues to balance their professional and personal commitments carefully.

“Keep your life in order,” Mattiello said.

All Rhode Island’s legislators hold what Paiva Weed and Mattiello called “day jobs,” and both reminded their audience to make sure these jobs did not fall by the wayside while remembering to “pay attention to the needs of your district,” as Mattiello put it.

Paiva Weed brought the freshmen’s attention back to their day-to-day responsibilities: “attend those committee meetings,” “show up for sessions,” and “take time to learn about an issue before you make a commitment.”

“Your word is your bond,” Mattiello reiterated. “Don’t give your word too freely. If you’re not sure that you’re committed to an issue, don’t give it…Talk to people and once you’ve given your word, keep your word.” This piece of advice, he said, had “served me well in my law practice and in the service of this office.”

The first event in a daylong program, Mattiello’s and Paiva Weed’s speeches were followed by an explanation of health insurance benefits to which the new legislators are entitled. The program, which ran until mid-afternoon, included speeches by the House Majority Leader and House Minority Whip, the director of House Communications, and the chief of staff. 

With 12 new state representatives and four new senators seated behind the lecterns, the Capitol building was much quieter than usual, the surrounding hallways full of Christmas decorations but none of the usual throngs of lobbyists.

General Assembly members will be sworn in on January 3.