The gathering unofficially starts today with the 48th annual Wild Hog Supper — a traditional south Georgia barbecue provided by the Addison family of Dodge County for past and present lawmakers, governors and their families.

State Rep. Barbara Massey Reece, D-Menlo, is taking her granddaughters as a special treat. She maintains an apartment in Atlanta to avoid a 200-mile round-trip daily commute.

“Their mama is coming Sunday night, and they’ll be on the floor (of the House) with me for the swearing-in,” Reece said.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m.

State Rep. Katie Dempsey is encouraging residents to keep up with legislative happenings via live Web casts of the sessions by the Georgia Technology Authority.

Dempsey left her home Friday for a three-day Georgia Hospital Association trustee conference in Greensboro before the start of the session. The Rome Republican is a trustee for GHA member Floyd Medical Center.

During her previous two-year term, she served on the House Health and Human Services Committee, along with the committees on economic development and tourism; higher education; and children and youth.

“They’re all important committees to our community, although I don’t know if I’ll get the same assignments this year,” Dempsey said.

The House will vote on its speaker Monday — an expected re-election of state Rep. Glenn Richardson, R-Hiram — but it will likely be Wednesday before the speaker announces committee assignments.

Reece said she is seeking a change to the appropriations committee from the science and technology committee she served on last term but wants to keep her seats on the education; reapportionment; and state institutions and property committee.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who presides over the Senate, has already announced committee chairmanships for that body.

State Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, will again be leading the judiciary committee charged with reviewing legislation dealing with courts and crime. He is expected to keep the same office and phone number, 404-656-0034, this year.

Office assignments remain up in the air for Dempsey, Reece and Floyd County’s other House delegates, Reps. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, and Rick Crawford, D-Cedartown.

“Some people have asked for changes, but all the Floyd delegates are veterans so I don’t think there will be any mass shifting,” Reece said.

“We may get the assignments Monday, but sometimes it’s Tuesday before we know,” she said.

Rome News Tribune