County commissioners, officials sworn in
Greene County commissioners Archie Trader, Pam Snyder and
Charles Morris sign their respective oaths of office during a
ceremony Thursday at the county courthouse. The commissioners
joined many other county, municipal and township officials and
employees who were sworn in for the administration of oath of
office.
Greene County commissioners Archie Trader, Pam Snyder and Charles Morris sign their respective oaths of office during a ceremony Thursday at the county courthouse. The commissioners joined many other county, municipal and township officials and employees who were sworn in for the administration of oath of office.
WAYNESBURG — A large crowd packed the Greene County Courthouse Thursday morning to witness newly elected and incumbent county, municipal and township officials and employees being sworn in to office.
Judges William R. Nalitz and Farley Toothman administered the oath of office to numerous elected officials, including incumbent commissioners Pam Snyder, Archie Trader and Charles Morris.
Snyder, Trader and Morris were three of four candidates on the November election ballot in the race for commissioner. The fourth candidate was Republican challenger Richard Yeager. The four candidates were vying for the three seats on the board of commissioners.
Snyder led the candidates in total votes, while Trader finished second and Morris came in third. The official election results mean that Snyder and Morris will retain the Democratic majority on the board of commissioners for the next four years, while Trader will serve as the Republican minority commissioner.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Nalitz swore in Toothman, who was elected in the November election to serve a 10-year term as Common Pleas Court judge after he was appointed to the seat in 2009.
Also sworn in Thursday were: Sherry Wise, clerk of court and clerk of orphans’ court; David Balint, controller; Marjorie Fox, district attorney; Susan Kartley White, prothonotary; Cory L. Grandel, treasurer; and two magisterial district judges, Lou Dayich of District 13-3-01 in Waynesburg and Glenn Bates of District 13-3-02 in Franklin Township.
Numerous township and municipal officials and county deputies also were sworn in during the ceremony.
Nalitz also recognized Shirley Stockdale, the former clerk of courts who recently retired after being employed with the county for 47 years.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Nalitz congratulated all officials who were sworn in and encouraged them to serve their duties to the best of their abilities during their respective terms.
“Just as no employer will hire an applicant that he cannot trust, a voter will not vote for a candidate who he or she feels cannot be trusted,” he said. “So what that means is that you have earned their trust up to this point… You will repay their trust by living up to the oath you just took — that is, by discharging the duties of your office with fidelity.
“You pay back the voters’ trust by using your best judgment and your best ability every day in office,” he continued. “It may be that a citizen or group of citizens will disagree with some decisions you will make, but if you have sound reasons for that decision then you are living up to your oath of office. “
The ceremony also included an invocation and benediction conducted by the Rev. Gary Grau.
Following the ceremony, officials who were sworn in signed their respective oaths of office.
While signing her oath, Snyder said she is looking forward to what lies ahead for Greene County, and she anticipates that the three commissioners will continue to work together efficiently.
“The three of us all have the same goal as commissioner: To improve the quality of life for Greene County. And we will work together diligently to achieve that goal,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in facing the many challenges that Greene County is facing. It is an honor for me to serve my third term as county commissioner, and I truly thank the voters for having faith in me.”
The commissioners will hold a reorganization meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday at their meeting room on the first floor of the Greene County Office Building.
Commissioners will hold their next agenda meeting on Wednesday and their regular meeting Thursday, with both meetings starting at 10 a.m.