Former state representative Lyle Koenen has been sworn in as a senator to finish out the term of the late Gary Kubly. Koenen says that Kubly set an example for how senators should conduct themselves, and he intends to follow that example. Kubly, a Democrat with a reputation for working across party lines, died in March after a battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Koenen, a farmer from Clara City and also a Democrat, was first elected to the House in 2002. He will now be up for re-election to the senate seat this November, along with all of the 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate and all 134 seats in the Minnesota House.