Today at 10:30 a.m. the General Assembly will officially certify what residents have known for months: Martin O?Malley and Anthony Brown won the Nov. 7 election.

At the about the same time, hundreds of state police troopers in full uniform will begin forming a cordon to escort the new governor, lieutenant governor and their families from Government House, the governor?s residence, across State Circle and up the steps to the Governor?s Reception Room on the second floor of the State House.