NASHVILLE – The 106th General Assembly was gaveled to order this week in Nashville as the state’s 132 lawmakers took the oath of office, elected officers and organized to begin the business of the 2009-2010 legislative sessions.

Families and friends crowded the Senate chamber and watched as the16 newly elected or re-elected members of the State Senate took the oath of office, which was the first order of business during the organizational session.

On a personal note, I was honored to have my wife, Kay; daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Ryan Thomas; and, many friends from Sevier and Blount Counties present in the Senate Chamber and gallery for the event.

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