The City Hall rotunda was packed for this morning’s inauguration, with such luminaries as Sen. Mark Dayton and St. Paul Mayor-Elect Chris Coleman in attendance. Even our furtive police chief, William McManus showed up, resplendent in his dress blues.

Having followed with some enthusiasm the various election campaigns that produced today’s inaugurees, we were pleased to see five new council members on the steps above our Father of Waters, waiting to be officially accepted as public servants.

Three of the five rookies stood in the first row as we were treated with a rousing rendition of the national anthem. Betsy Hodges, the new 13th Ward CM, stood with her hand on her heart next to veterans Sandra Colvin Roy, Scott Benson, and Mayor R.T. Rybak, who were each similarly posed. Farther down the row, however, two newbies--Ralph Remington and Elizabeth Glidden--flanked second-termer Gary Schiff, and none of them were paying proper respect to the flag.

Halfway through the anthem, Glidden glanced down the row, past her two slacker colleagues toward the respectful poses of those beyond. She glanced quickly toward the crowd and raised her hand as if to adjust the corsage on her suit, and then, very nonchalantly, allowed her hand to rest quietly over her heart for the remainder of the tune.