CLEVELAND, Ga. – Newly elected White County officials were sworn into office Friday morning at the White County Courthouse in Cleveland. County Probate Judge Don Ferguson first administered the oath of office to Enotah Judicial Circuit Judge Joy Parks who then gave the oath of office to Judge Ferguson.
During the 10 AM ceremony at the White County Courthouse, the following people were administered their oath of office and loyalty oath by Judge Ferguson: Magistrate Judges, Corey Hyde, Garrison Baker, and Cherie Kinsey; Commission Chairman Travis Turner; Commissioners Craig Bryant and Shan Ash; Sheriff Rick Kelley; Tax Commissioner Cindy Cannon; Surveyor Eddie Hood; Board of Education Chair Missy Jarrard; Board of Education members Charlie Thomas and Jon Estes; and Corner Ricky Barrett.
White County Clerk of Court Dena Adam was not a part of Friday’s ceremony, Adams, who has served as Superior Court Clerk since 1998, received her oath in a special ceremony on Monday, December 23.
For Shan Ash this will be his first term as commissioner and he said he is looking forward to serving, “I look forward to this new position and I look forward to working with other Commissioners to hopefully do what’s best for our county and best for our people here, “ said Ash.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by family members, county employees, and the general public.
Judge Ferguson said each of the public servants took an oath that was designed specifically for their office, he said “Every office is a little bit different. The Superior Court judge is a little different from the Probate judge, which is a little different from the Magistrate judge as compared to the sheriff, who’s a little different from the corner, but you see some of the same wording, depending upon their duties. And then the commissioners, you know, their oath is for what’s best for the whole county, not just their district, and then the Board of Education is the same. So everything’s just a little bit different.”
The new four-year term for each of these officials will begin on January 1.
