The secret is out: Representative David Bennett is really Santa and Senator Matthew LaMountain is his number one elf.

The pair visited the Warwick Beacon office Saturday for photos with Santa. Mrs. Claus (Bennett’s wife Anne) was there too.

This was a first time Santa gig for Bennett, who has a natural beard, albeit not pure white. He urged kids to pull it, and one did, if they questioned if it was real. He didn’t wear a wig either, but let down his pony tail so his hair fell to his shoulders.

Elf Matt with a perpetual smile was dressed in a green jacket, red and green striped pants and, appropriately, a matching cap. Elf Matt is tall, very tall, and loomed above Santa.

 One early arrival sprinted back and forth outside the Beacon front door and then rushed in when he spotted Santa. He brought along a letter with a list and a gift of a book for Santa.  Santa asked Makai Douthit what he wanted for Christmas – Legos was the answer. And Santa revealed that peanut butter cookies are his favorite. Mrs. Claus nodded in agreement.

Midway through his morning visit, Santa Bennett was visited by Santa Paul (Evans), who was recently featured in these pages as the author of a children’s Christmas book, “Please, Just Leave the Glass.” Evans, a retired Warwick firefighter, had a full Saturday schedule, yet found time to share some tips with Bennett, like why he had a giant key hanging from his belt – the answer is so he could get into to houses without chimneys or if the chimney was just too dirty. Santa Paul left an assortment of treats to give visiting kids that included bracelets and stickers.

With the end of his visit nearing, Santa and his crew packed up and stopped at the Warwick Public Library where they found kids in the Children’s Library before returning to the North Pole…no, that’s not the State House.

More photos of the event and the kids – some adults joined Santa for pictures, too – will appear in the Christmas week edition on Dec. 21.