The Countywide and Sun: New Officials Take Oaths

This first week of 2011 features the swearing in of many new officials at all levels. Here’s a recap:

Monday, Jan. 3

New and re-elected county officials, including county commissioners Buck Day and Melissa Dennis, assessor Troyce King and District Attorney Richard Smothermon, were sworn in Monday by new Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Douglas Combs.

Tecumseh Municipal Judge Sherman Murray will swear in Mayor Eddy Parker and council members Gene Crnkovic and Bob Stewart near the beginning of the 6 p.m. City Council meeting Monday night.

Tuesday, Jan. 4

Dist. 26 State Representative Kris Steele will be sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives at noon at the state Capitol. The ceremony is open to the public.

New Fifth District Congressman James Lankford will hold a ceremonial swearing-in at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the House Agriculture Committee Hearing room in the Longworth House Office Building at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The public is invited to this event, since each member is allowed only two guests for the official swearing in on Wednesday. Congressman Frank Lucas will host the Tuesday’s event.

Friday, Jan. 7

Douglas Combs, former Pottawatomie County District Judge, took his oath of office Saturday as a Justice oFriday in the Supreme Court courtroom at the state Capitol. A reception will follow in the Rotunda.

Monday, Jan. 10

John Canavan was sworn in Monday morning as the new Pottawatomie County District Judge but will hold a formal ceremony at 8:30 a.m. next Monday at the county courthouse. Justice Combs will administer the oath before leaving for the state Inauguration ceremonies.

Tecumseh’s own Mary Fallin will take the oath of office as Governor of Oklahoma at high noon. Ceremonies actually begin at 11 a.m., including the swearing-in of several other new state officials.

The new Dist. 27 member of the state House of Representatives, Josh Cockroft, and returning Dist. 26 Representative Kris Steele were sworn in shortly after the November election.