Congratulations are again in order to Gloucester's Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Cape Ann's new state representative, who was sworn into office yesterday morning.

Ferrante, one of just two new arrivals at the Statehouse to have unseated incumbents this past election year, won the 5th Essex House seat last September when she topped a three-way primary that included seven-term incumbent Anthony Verga. Defeating Verga also made her the only new representative to have ousted a member of the House leadership.

But while she no doubt deserves the usual learning curve that comes with the first few months in elective office, she should certainly keep in mind that her presence in the Legislature was due to a clear declaration by voters that they have had enough of business as usual. And it's important that other members of the Legislature recognize and welcome her as a walking, talking symbol of that voters' call as well.

Minutes after her swearing-in yesterday, the House opened with its selection of Speaker, and once again chose Salvatore DiMasi, who remains under the cloud of an ethics investigation. Ferrante, in fact, cast her vote with DiMasi. That's hardly a vote that signals any challenge to the status quo. And it's not as though she owed DiMasi anything; let's face it, he actively used his power and influence to protect Verga from Ferrante's challenge, when she ousted the 14-year incumbent in a September primary.

Ferrante clearly recognizes, however, that as a freshman legislator, she should pick her battles carefully. Alienating a Speaker who became a lock for re-election on Day One of her term would not be worth the resulting struggle to get Cape Ann's priorities and needs on the agenda - and that is indeed one of Ferrante's charges from her Gloucester, Rockport and Essex electorate.

But, with "business as usual" back in place on the leadership front, Ferrante should resolve not to let that get in the way of keeping her campaign promises to be "more prepared" and "more aggressive" in behalf of her district.

That includes working with Gloucester city officials on expanding the definitions of the Designated Port Area and more flexibility for Gloucester Harbor, as she noted during the campaign; and working toward reforming the state's system of allocating money for school construction projects, which has left Gloucester out in the cold in recent years. And it means generating more state clout behind reforming federal fishing regulations that have put far too many clamps on the industry throughout the district.

Surely she is qualified to keep that promise, by training and experience. She once worked on the staff of state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester. She is a lawyer with a land use and marine industrial practice. She has worked with Congressman John Tierney, D-Salem, and U.S. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry on the economy and ecology of commercial fishing, and on bringing more than $14 million in disaster relief to the local fishing community.

She understands the economic struggles and personal heartaches of fishing. Her father, Joseph, was a commercial fisherman until he was disabled in 1994. One of her best friends was Matteo Russo, who just last week perished with his father-in-law, John Orlando, when his fishing trawler sank on Middle Bank. And she recognizes that district voters need help in other areas, too, notably water and sewer rates and other forms of economic development.

There are early signs that Ferrante is being well-recognized by her legislative colleagues. House Ways and Means Chairman Robert DeLeo, House Economic Development Chairman Daniel Bosley and even Senate President Therese Murray have all thus far greeted her with open arms.

But it's important that they not view her as a sort of substitute for Verga, and somehow just one more new lawmaker to bring into the status quo. While she is indeed a Democrat and part of the overwhelmingly dominant party, and she even earned an unopposed ride through the November general election after her primary triumph, she is hardly taking her seat as a sign that voters think all is well on Beacon Hill.

She formally arrived at the State House yesterday backed by the good wishes of all, but also with high expectations to bring change, and to aggressively fight for the voters of Cape Ann.

We wish her well in that promised quest — but hope her colleagues recognize her role as well.