Swearing in ceremony held for new and returning elected county officials
Spectators numbering in the hundreds spilled into the hallway as newly elected and returning county officials were sworn in to their respective offices at a ceremony held Wednesday at the Fayette County Courthouse.
Judge Linda Cordaro presented the oath of office first to the incoming county commissioners. Dave Lohr, presented by Pastor James Turnball, was welcomed to his first term on the commission. Vincent Vicites, presented by his wife Deanna, was welcomed back to the commission, as was incumbent Angela Zimmerlink, presented by her husband Tom.
Judge Steve P. Leskinen administered the oath of office to incoming controller Scott Abraham. Incoming District Attorney Rich Bower presented Abraham to the court.
Bower said he had been getting to know Abraham over the past year, and has come to recognize him as an honorable and hard-working man. Bower said he’s been meeting with Abraham along with other newly elected officials to formulate an approach to dealing with county issues.
“I hope we can all become a team and lead this county into a different era,” said Bower.
The other members of the team Bower referenced, incoming Sheriff James Custer and Register of Wills Jeff Redman, were also sworn in Wednesday. Redman was introduced by his father, Donald Redman, who occupied the office for 20 years before announcing his retirement ahead of the primary election.
Custer was presented to the court by his wife, Renee.
Bower himself was sworn in next by President Judge John F Wagner Jr. as the county’s new chief prosecutor. Bower’s son, Richard Bower Jr., presented him to the court, describing his father as a dedicated man with a strong work ethic.
Senior Judge Conrad Capuzzi welcomed his daughter, Nina Capuzzi-Frankhouser, to a second term as prothonotary, pointing out the upgrades made in that office under her direction, which have garnered recognition from the state. Gary Frankhouser, husband of the incumbent, praised his wife’s hard work as well, and lauded the gratitude she shows for the teamwork of her outstanding staff.
Judge Nancy Vernon administered the oath of office to returning Clerk of Courts Janice Snyder, who was first elected to that office in 1992 and has been reelected continuously since then. Snyder was presented by her son Mark Snyder, and her granddaughter, U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Alyson Snyder.
Finally, the new and returning magisterial judges were sworn in. Leskinen administered the oath to Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr., who was reelected to serve Connellsville, and Magisterial Judge Michael Metros, who serves Uniontown.
Judge Joseph M. George Jr. swore in his replacement, Jennifer Jeffries, who was elected to fill the vacant seat in South Union and Menallen Townships. Jeffries was presented to the court by her uncle, Joseph Jeffries.
George also swore in Dan Shimshock, who was elected to serve Masontown and surrounding communities. Shimshock was presented by his brother CJ, who credited the Shimshock family’s strong ties to the community and work ethic for his success in the fall election.
Wagner concluded the ceremony by congratulating the officials on behalf of the entire bench.
Holding an elected office is a “tremendous privilege granted to relatively few,” Wagner said, adding that he believes voters who placed their confidence and trust in these men and women will not be disappointed.