Swearing In
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2008
This time of year the Lawrence County Courthouse is decked out — halls and all — with holiday decorations, but Thursday the third floor décor had more than a touch of red, white and blue to go along with its silver and gold.
At a noon ceremony, nearly all of the people elected to countywide offices in the November general election were sworn into office.
In years past, each candidate would arrange his or her own ceremony. This year two of them decided to be different and asked others to join them.
“Les Boggs and I talked about doing our swearing in together, and we just asked the other officeholders if they would like to participate and they all obviously said they would,” Lawrence County Commissioner Jason Stephens explained.
Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper, who did not run for office this year, administered the oath of office to each candidate and noted that if the crowd on the third floor was too large for everyone to see, Lawrence County Commission Administrator Tami Meade had arranged the event so that people standing on the second floor could look up into the mezzanine and watch from below. More than 100 people attended the event.
“I know this meant quite a lot to those elected to re- elected and it is good for you to see this transition of government,” Cooper said.
While some chose to make no remarks after their turn at the podium, others did.
Sharon Gossett Hager thanked those who supported her.
“No one wins an election by themself,” she said. “It takes a team.” She also thanked God and thanked her husband, Greg, whom she said often jokingly referred to himself during the campaign as “Mr. Sharon Hager” or “Lawrence County’s First Dude.” Mr. Hager got to hold The Bible while Mrs. Hager pledged her service to Lawrence County.
Mike Patterson, with his wife, Kathy and two small children at his side, was sworn in as clerk of courts. He thanked “all of Lawrence County” for supporting him.
“I’m excited about working with everyone,” he said. “And remember its always in God we trust.”
A number of sheriff’s office employees were on hand to witness their new sheriff sworn in. Jeff Lawless said he was “humbled to get this experience” and promised to his best to protect each and every citizen. Family, friends and all those co-workers applauded loudly after Lawless took his oath.
Kurt Hofmann thanked those who “took time, especially at this busy time to be here” and wished everyone a blessed holiday.
Les Boggs noted after his swearing-in that the Tuesday event included both Democrats and Republicans. The only two who did not participate was treasurer Stephen Dale Burcham, whose term doesn’t officially begin until September 2009, and engineer David Lynd, who had a prior engagement.