Elected officials sworn in
Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 11:59 am
Sheriff Tony Lippa, accompanied by wife, Donna, and grandson, Caleb Jenkins, takes oath of office.
BOWLING GREEN – Caroline County’s constitutional officers and other elected officials were sworn into office for terms of service that begin Jan. 1.
The swearing-in ceremony was held in the old Circuit Court building on Thursday of last week. The elected officials were administered oaths of office by Circuit Judge Joseph Ellis.
The tiny courtroom was filled to standing room only as elected officials were joined by family members and friends for the occasion.
Ellis remarked that he only has the opportunity to preside over two proceedings where he makes people happy – swearing-in ceremonies and adoptions.
“That’s an anomaly in the world,” said Ellis, referring to the “peaceful transfer of power.”
Elected officials are often faced with tough decisions, Ellis observed. “They need your support…These folks represent us all.”
Floyd Thomas, chairman of the county’s Board of Supervisors, thanked the elected officials for their service.
“We always make somebody mad, we always make somebody happy,” noted Thomas, “but we do it to help the people of Caroline County.”
The event marks a sea change in two respects. Starting in 2012, because of redistricting, the Board of Supervisors and the School Board will be comprised of six members, not five. In the November election new seats for both were filled for the county’s new Western Caroline District.
The School Board that begins service in January is almost entirely new. With some incumbents choosing not to seek re-election, two others defeated, and the addition of the new district, the new panel will have only one incumbent, chairman Mack Wright Jr. The other five are new, although George Spaulding of Bowling Green has served on the board in the past.
The constitutional officers – Commissioner of Revenue Sharon Carter, Treasurer Elizabeth Curran, Sheriff Tony Lippa and Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spencer – were sworn in individually.
Members of the Board of Supervisors, the School Board, and Soil and Water Conservation District were administered the oath of office in three groups.
Members of the Board of Supervisors are, in addition to Thomas, Wayne Acors, Jeff Black, Jeff Sili, Calvin Taylor, and Reginald Underwood.
School Board members beside Wright and Spaulding are Mary Anderson, Nancy Carson, Tinka Harris, Shawn Kelley.
The county’s soil and water directors are McGann Saphir and Cindy Smith.
Kelley was not present for the ceremony.
