Matt Smith’s New Year's Day celebration got off to a good start Tuesday afternoon when he was sworn in as the area’s new state senator.

Smith, who previously was a three-term state representative for most of the South Hills, was at the state Capitol in Harrisburg with friends and family for the unusual New Year’s Day swearing-in ceremony.

The Mt. Lebanon Democrat takes over the 37^th state Senate seat vacated by the retirement of John Pippy, a Republican from Moon Township. Smith defeated D. Raja, a Republican from Mt. Lebanon, in the November election to win the senate seat.

“It has been an amazing and humbling journey to arrive at this moment,” Smith said in a statement. “I am thankful to reach this milestone and look forward to returning home and getting back to work to serve the constituents of the 37^th Senatorial District.”

Smith’s senate district runs from the Moon Township area into the South Hills of Pittsburgh and extends into Peters Township.

He will continue to use his Mt. Lebanon legislative office on Castle Shannon Boulevard and has also opened a “satellite office” inside the Peters Township Municipal Building on East McMurray Road in McMurray.

Smith also plans to open a legislative office in Moon Township for constituents. Residents who need assistance can also contact his office by logging onto his website at www.SenatorMattSmith.com.

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