Romney to miss Patrick inaugural

Deval Patrick plans to open the State House to the public, to post large-screen televisions around Boston Common, and to set up a huge outdoor stage where 200 members of the Legislature can watch as he is sworn in on Jan. 4 as the governor.

As part of Patrick's inauguration, the streets around the State House will be closed to accommodate the thousands of people who are expected to attend the state's first alfresco swearing-in. Warm beverages will be provided, aides said.

After he addresses the crowd, Patrick will move to the building's Grand Staircase, where he will greet members of the public one by one, aides said.

As part of the planning, the departing governor, Mitt Romney, will leave the State House in the centuries-old "lone walk" the night before the inauguration, which officials say is the first time in history, to avoid an awkward public departure in front of thousands of Patrick supporters.

For generations, the exiting governor has met the incoming governor on inauguration day.

The tradition has included turning over symbols of the office that include a pewter key and a set of the 1860 Massachusetts General Laws. After the transfer of the items, the Senate sergeant of arms escorts the new governor to the House chamber, where he is sworn in by the Senate president.

The departing governor then traditionally walks out the front door of the State House and down the 31 steps, usually to a waiting crowd.

The front doors are open only rarely: for the sitting president of the United States, a visiting head of state, and a departing governor.

This year, Romney will turn over the gifts and leave the building on Jan. 3, a day before his term officially ends.

"Governor Romney has directed all of us to accommodate Governor-elect Patrick's desire for an outdoor inaugural," said Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's spokesman. "This is Deval Patrick's day, and we are happy to accede to his wishes."

Fehrnstrom said that even though Romney will leave on Jan. 3, he will remain governor until Patrick is sworn in.

Fehrnstrom refused to say whether Romney would be at the State House on his last day of office, Jan. 4.

The Globe reported the rare outdoor inauguration was under consideration by Patrick last week. Yesterday marked the first time the details of the five-day inaugural celebration were released.

Patrick transition officials announced parties in North Andover Friday, Jan. 5; in Pittsfield and Springfield Saturday, Jan. 6; and in Hyannis and North Dartmouth Sunday, Jan. 7.

Scheduled to attend the swearing in ceremony is L. Douglas Wilder, the first African-American to be elected governor in the United States; Patrick will become the second. Wilder served as Virginia's governor from 1990 to 1994 and is now mayor of Richmond.

In addition to the regional celebrations, the Patrick team is planning a pre-inaugural celebration in Worcester the evening of Jan. 3. On inauguration day, Patrick will host a morning interfaith service at the Old South Meeting House

Inauguration evening will begin with a private dinner for family, friends, and supporters at the Museum of Fine Arts.

The dinner will be followed by the gala celebration at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, expected to be attended by thousands.

Legislators had complained that an outdoor ceremony could become a logistical nightmare or be marred by bad weather.

But in the end, legislative leaders and the governor's office worked with Patrick to plan the outdoor event.

A Patrick spokeswoman, Cyndi Roy, said yesterday that the transition committee still had not worked out some logistical details, whether seating will be provided for the public, for example, or how much additional security will be required. Boston police will provide security.

Committee members also hadn't calculated the cost of the celebration, but said the inaugural committee, not state taxpayers, will pay for it. The festivities will be the most expensive in state history, costing more than $1 million.

A fund-raising committee is expected to raise more than that, in private and corporation donations of up to $50,000. Patrick transition officials have refused, however, to provide a listing of donors to date, saying they will do so after all donations are collected.