Dan Carey (D-Easthampton) is sworn in as Hampshire County Clerk of Courts alongside his family.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
EASTHAMPTON — Dan Carey (D-Easthampton) was sworn in as Hampshire County Clerk of Courts during a New Year’s Day ceremony at Old Town Hall’s Blue Room.
Carey was elected to the position in November 2024 after serving three consecutive two-year terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Carey succeeds retiring Clerk Harry J. Jekanowski Jr.
“I’m excited to get to work tomorrow to ensure that the Hampshire County Superior Court continues to be among the very best in the commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Carey said after being sworn in.
Carey thanked and joked to the room filled with family, friends and supporters that he was concerned about how the turnout of the event would be with it falling on New Year’s Day. The swearing in ceremony was legally required to take place on the first Wednesday of January, which this year happened to fall on the holiday.
“I think I’m the luckiest guy in Hampshire County. Lucky to be entering this new role and lucky to have the support of so many great folks like yourselves,” Carey said. “My father told me that Mike Ryan [former Northampton district court judge] said once, ‘if you see a turtle on a fence post, you can assume someone helped him get there.’ I am a turtle on a fence post.”
The oath of office was administered by Superior Court Judge Michael K. Callan. Carey’s father, retired Superior Court Judge Richard J. Carey, served as the event’s emcee.
“The last person who, like Daniel, was elected to his city council, and then, like Daniel, was elected to the Massachusetts legislature, and then like Daniel was elected to be the clerk of courts of Hampshire County, well that guy was later elected as the 30th president of the United States. No pressure,” Carey’s father joked, referencing Calvin Coolidge who served as Hampshire County clerk of courts in 1903.
Carey specially thanked his wife, Melissa, for her support over the years.
“Yesterday I stumbled into an impromptu happy hour session with a few of my dear friends and one of them said, ‘not everyone gets to marry their best friend.’ I am so lucky that I got to marry mine,” Carey said.
Carey also took time to lead a standing ovation for Jekanowski who has worked at the Hampshire courthouse for just over 40 years and is retiring from his longtime role.
“The clerk’s office serves as a gateway to the court for everyone. Harry and his staff have made it look easy, but I know that it isn’t. But I think I’m ready for that challenge,” Carey said.
