Judge Jon W. Webster made sure the Jennings County Circuit Court room was decorated in a festive air on News Years Eve when new county elected officials were officially sworn in to begin their term of office.
“Except for adoptions, happy things do not happen here often, but today is a joyous event so we added a few things to celebrate,” said the smiling judge as he pointed to the bright red poinsettia plants displayed around the room.
In spite of the dark and rainy day outside, there was a warm and cheerful atmosphere on the inside of the Courthouse when the swearing in ceremony began at 10 a.m.
Webster read the oath of office to each officeholder as each raised their right hand and swore to uphold the oath they were taking in the performance of their duties in the office they were elected to fulfill.
Webster explained to the standing-room only crowd filling his courtroom that though it was a legal requirement for each elected official to take the oath of office, it is not a legal requirement to take the oath of office in a public ceremony.
The ceremony was held on a day when the Jennings County Courthouse would normally be closed for business. Webster and his assistant, Chrystal Hensley, agreed to come in to perform the swearing-in ceremony.
Webster said he thought it was important to have a public ceremony for both the officials and the citizenry because, “I think it should be a solemn and sacred occasion for a public official to swear to uphold the Constitution and follow the law in the performance of their duties, that means both the federal Constitution and the state Constitution. And, I think it is important for the public to see the officials take that oath and to hold them to it.”
After the ceremony, Webster added, “It is now a time for unity. It is a time to go forward and get to work without politics. We should not be thinking about being a Democrat or a Republican. It is now a time to work together for the good of the people — all of the people.”
First-time elected county clerk, Amy Gwin Thompson, said she was ready to get to work. “The first thing I will do is study how things are supposed to be done, then I will formulate my plans on how to go about that,” said Thompson, following her oath and the signing of official paperwork.
“It will all be OK. We will get this done, “ said Connie Gayle Ochs after her official swearing in ceremony as a member of the Center Township Advisory Board.
The last official to take his oath, first term Jennings County Sheriff William Kenny Freeman, wasted no time getting to work as he greeted each of a group of seven sheriff deputies who watched the ceremony from the edge of the room.
