Why John Mannion was sworn in ahead of other NY senators Updated Dec 21, 2020; Posted Dec 21, 2020 John Mannion, of Geddes, takes the oath of office in the New York State Senate.Source: Sen. John Mannion Facebook Share Syracuse, N.Y. -- John Mannion, a Democrat from Geddes, was sworn in last week as a newly elected state senator -- a couple of weeks before most of his other senatorial colleagues will take their oaths for the upcoming two-year term. That’s because Mannion is filling a Senate seat that’s been empty since April. State election law allows him to fill the seat this year, even though the term he was elected to doesn’t begin until Jan. 1, according to Senate spokesman Gary Ginsburg.