By Jared Castañeda
Wallkill High School treated its AP government students to a special class last Thursday, January 16: the swearing-in ceremony for Assemblyman Brian Maher’s second term, held in the school’s library. During the ceremony, Maher recapped his career journey, answered questions, and provided advice to the aspiring pupils.
The ceremony opened with welcoming remarks from WHS Principal Brian Masopust, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem sung by Senior Student Jono McLaughlin. Masopust then summoned three student representatives who introduced Maher to their classmates and thanked him for his work and leadership in the New York State Assembly.
“In my role, I use my voice, guided by the voices of others, to represent the happenings of the school to the school board. Any leadership role as such requires not just dedication and time but also a lot of heart,” said Liam McCarthy, a student representative for the Wallkill Board of Education. “I am pleased to introduce Mr. Brian Maher here today. As someone who has used his voice in his role before, like advocating for free school lunches, I know that Mr. Maher has the heart that it takes to be a good school representative.”
“As president, it is my job to organize fundraisers, spread information, and listen to my classmates’ ideas and proposals. When taking on a position such as this, it is crucial to have the hearts of everyone who will be affected,” said Leah Petroccitto, the school’s senior class president. “We appreciate Assemblyman Maher for being here today to model leadership to our youth and the crucial responsibilities that come with that role.”
Jane Rascoe, the town clerk of Shawangunk, swore in Maher for his second term; the assemblyman took the Oath of Office while his mother stood beside him, holding back tears of joy. Following the oath, Wallkill Central School District Superintendent Kevin Castle recounted his experiences working with Maher, noting that he greatly took after the late Senator Bill Larkin. Castle stressed that Maher understood the needs of his and other school districts, always fighting to ensure proper funding for classes and electives like AP government.
“The legislators who represent us fight battles annually to ensure that we receive the amount of money we need to keep programs going. If we were not getting the money that Assemblyman Maher and others fight for, we would not have an AP government class because it’s not required. That goes for many electives that you partake in,” Castle said. “It’s because of individuals like Brian who fight for us because they care about you. They ensure that you have the same opportunities that they had as students when they were in high school, and we appreciate that.”
“I have met many legislators over the years, and while they’ve been very kind to us when we speak to them, I feel at times they don’t get it,” he continued. “Brian gets it, and we are very fortunate to have Brian here with us to partake in what is true civic engagement. This is a memory that you should cherish forever.”
Later in the ceremony, Maher gave a keynote speech, describing how his career shaped over the last few decades. He originally strived to be a star basketball player and pursued the sport in college, but he eventually dropped the dream after sustaining a few injuries. Maher grew interested in government after realizing he enjoyed uniting people under shared causes, so he explored the field in college. After receiving encouragement from his friends, he became Walden’s mayor in 2009 at 23 years old and served for six years. He later served as Montgomery’s town supervisor in 2020 for two years and became assemblyman for the 101st District in 2022.
“As much as I loved the game of basketball, I loved that through sports and teamwork, we brought people and communities together,” Maher said. “Didn’t matter if you were Republican or Democratic, didn’t matter about anything. You go to a sports game, you cheer for a sports team, and you’re bringing people together. And that was something that I really identified with.”
“The first time I joined a nonprofit organization to do a lobby day in Washington DC or Albany to speak with an assembly member or senator, in that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was 21 years old, and it was a little later than most,” he continued. “That’s when I started identifying what I wanted to do in college. I figured out how to learn, research, and understand all the things I needed to do to run for office myself one day.”
After his speech, Maher answered several questions from the class, with many students asking him for advice on government work and engagement. Of his takeaways, Maher told the students to take their responsibilities slowly, exercise caution when trusting others, stay informed on government happenings, and always lead initiatives. He asserted that everyone should participate in government, such as voting for candidates or lobbying for better legislation, emphasizing that citizens are instrumental in the government process.
“By not participating in government, you risk falling behind and not having the knowledge needed to participate in the way you can,” Maher said. “You are all the most important part of participation for your elected officials and in the government process; the more you are ignorant to it or the more you say ‘It’s not for me,’ the more problems will get worse. We need your feedback, participation, and voice to create solutions.”
At the end of the ceremony, Maher asserted that he will continue fighting against drugs, human trafficking, and state legislation that harms school funding. He also announced that Orange County would soon establish a leadership program for junior students, providing them with career opportunities that enable them to stay and work in New York. While senior students are not eligible for the program, he assured the class that any student could reach out ot his office and ask for help. Lastly, Maher added that he would move his district office from Washingtonville to Walden, giving Valley Central and Wallkill students with a closer location for internships.
“I hope you guys had a great experience and leave here knowing that you can use me as a resource,” Maher said. “Just go out there and be the best version of yourselves, because that is the only way things are going to change.”