The Bay Area's newest congressman is getting right to work in Washington.
House Speaker and fellow California Democrat Nancy Pelosi performed the official swearing in of John Garamendi Thursday morning. Garamendi flew back east just hours after learning he won Tuesday's special election to take over Ellen Tauscher's open seat.
His arrival is very welcome timing for the Democrats. Pelosi needs his vote on her health care reform bill. That bill will mostly likely be Garamendi's first act as a member of congress and is expected to come this weekend.
Starting Thursday Garamendi represents California's 10th Congressional District, which includes much of Contra Costa County, as well as parts of Alameda, Solano and Sacramento counties.
He was serving as the state's lieutenant governor, but resigned that post just before taking his new oath of office. It's now up to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to choose a replacement.
Garamendi will serve the rest of Tauscher's term, which ends in January 2011.
