Brendan Fogarty entered the family business as a $50-a-day legislative page in 2006, while he was still in high school.
As the 22-year-old son of state Sen. Paul Fogarty, D-Burrillville, nephew of state labor director and former Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty, and nephew one generation removed from John E. Fogarty, who served in Congress for 26 years, the family business is, of course, politics.
And eight legislative sessions and $49,955 later, he is still working for the General Assembly. Same daily pay, same role. No bennies.
A young man used to working behind the scenes, Brendan Fogarty found himself in the spotlight at the tail end of last Wednesday's Senate session when Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin rose from her seat to publicly congratulate him.
As she told her colleagues, "The son of Senator Fogarty, Brendan Fogarty, graduated this weekend from URI with a degree in communications." The Senators applauded the news warmly.
From 2006 to 2009, he had a summer job on the Senate Services staff helping to set up meetings, tours and other events; stocking office supplies, cleaning offices and other chores. Since 2010, his employment has been year-round and five days a week, according to Senate spokesman Greg Pare.
As to his prospects, Pare said Brendan "continues to work with the Senate Services staff throughout the year."