Given that Persis Yu just beat incumbent Mike Rush, an incumbent state senator for the Norfolk/Suffolk district who has not been challenged since he took office in 2010, one would expect more excitement when she visited the West Roxbury Business and Professional Association (WRBPA).

Instead the reception felt more cordial than celebratory; the WRBPA’s first meeting of the fiscal year at The Corrib Pub. President Jim Hennigan introduced Yu and after talking about the whirlwind of events she has attended, she promised to keep up that momentum and be a listener across all communities.

Yu acknowledged she didn’t agree on many issues with the constituents in the room, but she wanted to be someone who listens and understands and has conversations as that is the only way to move forward.

Briefly celebrating her victory over Rush, Yu stood before the crowd at The Corrib Pub and said she has memorized the number 15,730 – which is the number of votes she received. She joked she might tattoo that number on herself at some point.

“What I will pledge to you is that I am going to work every single day to earn all of those votes,” Yu said. She reminded people of her platform. “Affordability is number one, top of mind for so many people in this district.”

She said she is committed to making Massachusetts affordable by not only reducing costs but also increasing wages.

“We have one of the least transparent legislatures in the country and that needs to change,” Yu said. This has been a hot button issue for some members of the WRBPA.

She said she supports the idea of an audit for the State Legislature, along with the 70 percent of voters who cast their votes in the ballot question two years ago.

Yu said one of the big reasons she ran her campaign is due to the mayhem going on in Washington, DC.

“Democracy starts at home,” she said. “One of the ways to fix that is at the local level – in restaurants, homes, and around the kitchen table.” In order to get people to talk more openly about politics, politicians like herself need to restore faith in people.”

To that end, Yu is scheduling a “listening tour” prior to the general election, which for her, is merely a formality as there is no Republican opponent. The first stop on the tour is at the Norwood Library. “The crux of democracy is meeting people at their level and having a conversation,” she said. Yu then opened the floor to questions. Before doing so, she encouraged everyone to vote in the general election as “No one should take anything for granted,” she said.

West Roxbury Neighborhood Council member Stephen Smith asked Yu what referendum questions she deemed important. Yu mentioned public records and same day voter registration. The primary elections took place on Sept. 1, which for many is moving day, Yu noted, meaning that those moving in could not have voted in their new location.

Regarding taxes, Yu said she opposes the property tax cuts as it will hamper the legislature’s ability to provide vital services to the community. It needs the ability to pay its bills and drive the revenues that benefit its citizens.

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Another member brought up how Mayor Michelle Wu supported Rush, which came as a surprise politically as Wu is known for supporting more progressive candidates, like Yu.

But, according to the discussion, the rumors were that Rush was going to push Wu’s agenda to lower property taxes in the legislature. The question then was to Yu: if she would sit down with the mayor on this issue. Yu said she is setting up an appointment to have an in-depth conversation with the mayor.

She also wants to help relieve residents but in a way that can get results in the legislature.

In response to a question about how she will interact with her colleagues in the State House, Yu referenced her challenging win over a well-respected incumbent and veteran. On a practical level, Yu said she had an initial meeting with the Senate president and scheduled another one. “I am not here to go along to get along. I am here to represent the people of this district.”

In one of the most direct and challenging questions to Yu, one resident asked the state senator-to-be if she would seek outside employment. Yu said she is currently winding down her role as director of a non-profit and would do contract work for them. “I plan for this (referring to her role as state senator) to be my full-time job.” “So, you’re going to rely solely on the senate pay?” the WRBPA member asked.

Yu again mentioned she might seek contract work but it would amount to less than part-time work. “You don’t seem too positive,” the same member said, with a lightness in his voice. Yu smiled and said, “I’m working it out and I’m happy to keep having conversations about it. I’ve had these results for two weeks.” The member presumed that Yu is taking a pay cut and Yu affirmed this and said, “I am taking a huge pay-cut.” As if stuck in a who’s on first loop, the member asked again if Yu was going to seek outside employment and Yu firmly said she was not.

The final question for Yu swung in the other direction where another WRBPA member congratulated Yu on her win and asked if she had any indicators of the win. “There was never a guarantee,” Yu said and compared going against an incumbent to defying gravity.

District 6 City Councilor Ben Weber offered a few announcements, including the opening of Billings Field in West Roxbury, around November. The West Roxbury Parkway Bridge construction, which has caused traffic delays for those who rely on driving in that area, is set to finish in December. Weber said the main issue this summer was parking tickets on Centre Street. He said his office would help people appeal their tickets as it is tricky to park in between the bike lane and buffer lane. “This isn’t like an NFL replay where you have one toe on the white line and you’re out of bounds,” he said to some laughs. He said he has had a good success rate on appeals for the tickets.

Hennigan wrapped up the meeting and thanked Yu for making her third appearance and referred to her as a frequent flier of the WRBPA.The next WRBPA meeting will be the second Wednesday of October.