STATE HOUSE — Rep. Jon Brien, an independent representing District 49 in Woonsocket and a portion of North Smithfield, was formally sworn into office on Tuesday, Jan. 3, as the 2023-24 term of the Rhode Island General Assembly convened. He previously represented District 50 in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2012.
Brien was one of 12 new members of the House of Representatives who took the oath of office, which was administered by Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore.
The district was previously represented by Rep. Steven Lima, who did not seek reelection, and in 2022, a portion of North Smithfield was added to the territory following the redistricting process.
The House of Representatives began its legislative year with the re-election of Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi of Warwick as the Speaker of the House.
A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Brien earned his juris doctor from New York Law School in 1997 and a master of business administration degree from Suffolk University in 2001. He is an attorney with Brien Law Group Inc. He served as vice president of the Woonsocket City Council from 2016 to 2020.
Brien was born on Nov. 21, 1970 and resides in Woonsocket with her his wife, Nicole Bourget Brien. He has four children, Kristen Chad, Juliana and Gabriella.
