Rep. Mary Hales, D-Casper, sworn in to office

Contact:  Bill Luckett, Executive director   307-473-1457 (office)   307-473-1459 (fax)  

From the Wyoming Democratic Party

For immediate release

July 23, 2007

Contact: Bill Luckett

Communications director

307-631-7638

Rep. Mary Hales, D-Casper, sworn in to office

CHEYENNE - Casper real estate agent Mary Hales took the oath of office this morning as Wyoming's newest state representative during a ceremony at the State Capitol Building.

Wyoming Chief Justice Barton R. Voigt administered the oath to Rep. Hales, a Democrat who was appointed by the Natrona County Commission from a pool of three finalists the party selected to fill the vacancy in House District 36 left by the resignation of Evansville Democrat Liz Gentile.

More than 30 people, including Rep. Hales' family members and friends, sitting legislators, legislative staffers and executive branch officials, attended the short ceremony.

After taking the oath, Rep. Hales thanked those in attendance as well as the people of Natrona County.

"I promise I will do my very best to represent them," she said. "I'm looking forward to this."

Gov. Dave Freudenthal offered the resources of his office should she want any help learning about state issues, and several legislators in attendance - including Sen. Jayne Mockler, D-Cheyenne; Rep. Mary Throne, D-Cheyenne; and Rep. Lori Millin, D-Cheyenne - also offered their assistance to Rep. Hales as she gets settled in as a new legislator.

"We're here to help however we can," said Rep. Millin.

Sen. Mockler added that having Rep. Hales join the Legislature "is a wonderful, wonderful thing for the House."

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