Newly installed Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, began his first speech in his new role with the state motto, “Nothing without providence.”

But it may as well have been “Expect the unexpected.”

Cadman led off his first speech with tributes to his family, and to his mother, who died of cancer when he was in his early 20s. He then lit the first of three memory candles at a nearby table in her honor.

A few minutes later, he asked Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, to come to the dais to light a candle in honor of his partner, Dave Misner, who died in 2012 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The third candle, which Cadman lit, was in the memory of Claire Davis, the Arapahoe High School senior who died in December 2013 from injuries suffered in a shooting at the high school. Davis’ parents, William and Desiree, were in the Senate chambers Wednesday.

Opening day festivities also included music from the Diana Castro Band. After singing the “Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful,” the jazz band helped keep the chamber lively, playing during recesses while legislators waited for swearing-in or messages from the House.

Cadman’s nomination as Senate President was made by new Senate Majority Leader, Mark Scheffel, R-Parker, and seconded by Sen. Rollie Heath, D-Boulder. In another show of bipartisanship, new Senate Minority Leader Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, seconded the nomination of Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, as Senate President Pro Tempore.

Cadman’s 48-minute speech focused on lessons he has learned throughout his life, including the past 12 years at the state capitol. Known for his sense of humor, Cadman also showed some of his softer side, telling the audience that his sister traveled from Philadelphia as a surprise for his father, and that they had not been in the same room for almost 20 years.

Cadman acknowledged his mentor, former Sen. Ron May, R-Colorado Springs, and his high school vice-principal who taught him to “learn from the past, live in the present, and plan for the future.” Cadman said those principles will guide him in the 70th General Assembly.

Within his agenda for 2015, Cadman drew a line in the sand regarding TABOR refunds, saying the discussion about whether to keep that money is “moot.” The TABOR refund, estimated in last month’s revenue forecasts at around $120 million, belongs to the taxpayer and should go to them, Cadman told his Senate colleagues. It drew strong applause from Republicans and silence from Democrats.

His agenda also includes working toward improvements in K-12 education, from better school performance to sustainable funding; and rolling back what he called “useless regulation” that would make the state more competitive. He pledged to improve school safety, pointing to the shootings at four public high schools as evidence that the “issue must be confronted.”

Cadman encouraged his colleagues to develop relationships. Now in his 14th year at the capitol, Cadman said there are countless opportunities to make a point, but limited opportunities to make a difference. “Our ultimate success will be determined by the latter.”

In her remarks on behalf of the minority party, Carroll highlighted the accomplishments of the 2014 Legislature, including battling “sky-rocketing college tuition and student debt,” reducing the cost of child care, providing recovery dollars for communities impacted by floods and fires, and to work across the aisle. She pointed out that 97 percent of the bills passed were bipartisan, and that her caucus is ready to work with their Republican colleagues.

Among her caucus’s agenda: working to reduce debt, be it student loans, credit cards, or costs of child card. She called on legislators to continue to expand early childhood education and post-secondary education.

Carroll also pointed out that Colorado has the highest number of women serving in a state legislature for the sixth year in a row.

Republicans, who now hold an 18-17 majority in the Senate, celebrated the first day of the session with visits from a number of their former colleagues. In addition to May, former senators John Evans, R-Parker; Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock and former Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial, attended Wednesday’s opening.

Eighteen seats of the 35-seat Senate were up for election last November. Eight senators won re-election, four members of the 2014 House won Senate seats, and four senators are new to the General Assembly. Two senators, Tim Neville, R-Littleton, and Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, have served previously in the Legislature: Neville in the Senate in 2011-12, and Merrifield in the House from 2004 to 2010.

— Marianne@coloradostatesman.com