Mixing high praise with jokes, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman came to Stonington last week to ceremonially swear in Democratic First Selectman George Crouse in front of a large crowd gathered in the high school commons.

"Thank you for giving me this honor tonight," Wyman told Crouse. "I'm humbled by you asking me to do this."

After Wyman read the oath to Crouse, he replied "I do."

"You better," cracked Wyman, as the group of friends, relatives and town officials gave Crouse an extended standing ovation.

This was actually the second time that Crouse was sworn in. The first took place last month after former First Selectmen Ed Haberek resigned to take a job in Seattle, Wash.

Although Crouse has served on the Board of Selectmen for the past five years, he was better known as a former Stonington High School teacher who has coached the girls tennis team for the past 41 years and won a state championship 2013.

Introducing Wyman and Crouse, Democratic Town Committee Chairman Scott Bates pointed out that Crouse is a teacher, coach, dad and granddad.

"But most of all he's from here and he's for us. He has honesty, integrity and character and cares deeply about this town," Bates said. "He did seek this office. It came to him circumstantially and he stepped up."

Wyman told the crowd that the hardest job in the world is being a locally elected official. She said that when she served on her town's school board, the milk in her grocery cart would get sour because it would take her so long to make her way through the supermarket with everyone wanting to talk to her about school issues.

She then turned to new Republican Selectman and former Second District Congressman Rob Simmons.

"Thank you for taking a hard job for a change," she joked.

Wyman then turned serious as she told Crouse that he has given so much to so many people and touched so many lives as a teacher and coach.

Every time you touched a life you made another life better," she said.

Crouse thanked the crowd for supporting him and said he was humbled by their presence at the ceremony.

"The constant in my life all these years besides my family has been Stonington," he said, pointing out he had worn the brown and white of Stonington High School while playing on a state championship baseball team.

"My goal is to make this town better. We have a wonderful situation with Rob Simmons, Mr. Republican, Mike Spellman, Mr. Independent and George Crouse, Mr. Democrat. It's an experiment but I think we can all cooperate and succeed," he said.

The three men have said the "tripartisan" makeup of the Board of Selectmen will allow the board to work well on behalf of the town.

Crouse pledged to treat everyone with respect and honesty.

"I will treat everyone who comes in my office the way I would want to be treated," he pledged.

J.WOJTAS@THEDAY.COM

@JOEWOJTAS