WORCESTER, Mass. - Tim Murray describes being lieutenant governor as an 18-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week type of job.

"There's things that pop up every day, and it's just trying to keep that balance as best as you can, stay informed, stay on top of things and work your way through those," said Murray, now the president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, a Democrat, will be sworn into the position on Thursday. Murray’s path was similar, as he was elected lieutenant governor in 2006 after serving as Worcester's mayor.

Murray said like any job change, there’s a learning curve, particularly when it comes to health and human services.

"It is complex in the sense of state funding, federal funding, hospitals, insurance," said Murray. "So the health and human services piece is significant in terms of getting your arms around."

Driscoll will take over for Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito (R), who like Gov. Charlie Baker (R), announced she would no longer be seeking reelection.

Murray said Driscoll is continuing the trend of lieutenant governors who have a history of public service, which he described as enormously helpful.

"You come in with a working knowledge of almost all of the state agencies, how they interface with municipalities and businesses of a variety, institutions of a variety of different ways," Murray said.

Driscoll joins Gov.-elect Maura Healey in making history this week. They are the first all-female ticket to be elected as governor and lieutenant governor in the Commonwealth.

As a father of two girls, Murray said he's glad to see the state being led by two women.

"For years, the glass ceiling in the governor's office and some of the statewide offices has been very difficult to break," Murray said. "This year, it was shattered pretty much beyond recognition, which is a great thing. As a father of two daughters, you know, those types of examples are really important."