Greg Elkins, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, is sworn in Thursday as the new senator representing Bath, Clark, Menifee and Montgomery Counties and an eastern portion of Fayette County. (Photo by LRC Public Information)
Sen. Greg Elkins, a Republican from Winchester who recently won a special election, was sworn into the Kentucky Senate on Thursday.?
Elkins, will fill a vacancy left by former Sen. Ralph Alvarado, who became the Tennessee Department of Public Health commissioner in January. The term ends in 2026.
The seat represents the 28th state Senate District, which covers Bath, Clark, Montgomery, Menifee and part of Fayette counties.?
Elkins’ wife, Kim, and their friends and family joined them for his for his swearing-in ceremony, a Senate Majority press release said. Senate Republicans, including Senate President Robert Stivers and other members of leadership, also attended. Elkins was sworn in by Supreme Court of Kentucky Justice Robert Conley.?
“Senator Elkins brings great business acumen and the entire Senate Majority Caucus is excited to work with him,” Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said in a statement. “He arrives in the legislature at a great time, just before the 2023 Interim Period, which allows him to get his feet wet as the joint committees do their work ahead of the 2024 60-day budget session. I am particularly pleased to welcome Greg as we both represent a portion of Fayette County. Additionally, his win returns the Senate GOP supermajority to its high-water mark of 31 members.”??
With Elkins, the Republicans’ majority in the Senate stands at 31 members to seven Democrats.?
During the interim session, Elkins will serve on the Interim Joint Committees on Health Services, Families and Children, State Government and Local Government. His standing committee assignments will be announced before the 2024 legislative session begins.?
“Few people are fortunate enough to call themselves Americans and Kentuckians, and even fewer are blessed to be a representative for their fellow residents. I take this responsibility seriously and know my constituents trust me to represent them well,” Elkins said in a statement. “With the support of friends here in the Kentucky General Assembly, I’m confident we will continue moving Kentucky in the right direction.”?
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