enlarge Doug Jones/Staff Photographer

Freshman State Rep. Mark Eves of North Berwick spends time with his children Elaina, 4, and Lucas, 2, shortly before being sworn in Wednesday at the State House in Augusta. The 31-year-old Democrat from North Berwick was elected by less than 500 votes.

enlarge Doug Jones/Staff Photographer

Hannah Pingree nods to her mother, U.S. Rep.-elect Chellie Pingree, on Wednesday at the State House.

AUGUSTA — Gov. John Baldacci swore in the members of the 124th Legislature on Wednesday in a day filled with tradition, formality and foreboding about the state's looming fiscal crisis.

Both the Senate and House chambers were packed with lawmakers, family members, lobbyists and state employees, all there to watch the political pageantry. The day's events also included the election of new legislative leaders and constitutional officers, including the state's first female attorney general.

Running through all the ceremonies was the undercurrent of the state's dire financial forecast. The governor has already ordered cuts to the current budget. Members of the new Legislature will have to deal with an $838 million budget shortfall for the two-year period beginning July 1 that will likely result in drastic cuts to state programs, services and employees.

"These are very difficult times facing our state and the nation," said Baldacci, who along with other governors met this week with President-elect Barack Obama in Philadelphia in hopes of getting federal aid to help cash-strapped states like Maine.

"In Maine, we put people above politics," the governor said. "We will need all our talents combined to ensure that Maine successfully weathers this economic storm and comes out stronger."

Paul B. Cates of the Vassalboro Friends Meeting addressed the financial climate during his invocation in the Senate chamber, speculating on how God might advise the state's leaders during the budget crisis.

He suggested that God would say he gave people intelligence, creativity and "especially to Mainers, a great deal of common sense," and it would take those qualities to deal with declining revenues and increased needs for services.

The theme was taken up by state leaders, from Baldacci to the newly elected legislative leaders, Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, and House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven. It's the first time both of Maine's legislative chambers are being headed by women at the same time.

And Mitchell is the first woman to have served as presiding officer in both the Maine House and Senate.

"It is important to take a moment to savor this joyous occasion before we turn our attention to committee assignments, bill titles and public hearings," Mitchell said. "But unfortunately, we can take but a moment."

Republicans made a gesture of cooperation toward Democrats, deciding not to nominate a slate of Republican candidates for the offices of secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general, who were selected by the majority party. Instead they supported the people nominated by the opposing party.

That gesture, and speeches made by Republicans and Democrats, pushed the concept of bipartisanship during the day.

"We understand we have a lot of work to do," said state Sen. Jonathan Courtney, R-Springvale, the assistant Senate minority leader. "The problems are too big for one side to solve."

State Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, was among those sworn in for his first term. Alfond said he thought members of the public "understood the stakes" facing the state, and hoped he would help in the challenging times. "I feel like it's a good place for me to be," Alfond said.

Alfond was one of the 34 members of the Senate sworn in by Baldacci in the Senate chambers. According to Senate tradition, the 35th senator, Walter R. Gooley, a Farmington Republican, was sworn in later, in the governor's office. The senator from Franklin County was traditionally the fire stoker, keeping the wood stove that heated the State House warm filled with fuel.

As Baldacci walked down the hall to the Senate chambers, he passed Gooley, who stood holding a walking stick and a split piece of soft maple.

"Is the State House warm enough, governor?" Gooley asked.

"It's going to be...