Lyle Koenen sworn in as District 20 senator

Lyle Koenen took the oath to become a Minnesota state senator Wednesday, taking the seat vacated with the death of veteran lawmaker Gary Kubly.

"Welcome Lyle Koenen, welcome aboard," Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said shortly after the Senate went into session.

Sitting at Kubly's old desk, Koenen stood and accepted applause from his new colleagues.

Koenen, a Clara City Democrat, has served in the House since 2003. He was elected to the Senate in a special vote to replace Kubly, a Granite City Democrat who died of complications related to Lou Gehrig's disease.