Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Swearing To Go To Work For The Commonwealth
Pike County’s elected officials saw the official start to their terms on Saturday January 6, as the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center played host to an elaborate inauguration for the county’s in-coming office holders. Over thirty public officials, judges and deputies raised their right hand and swore to uphold the constitution of both the United States and The Commonwealth. 
The oath, while ceremonial, serves as promise that the people elected to hold office will serve with dignity and to uphold the true meaning of commonwealth; which traditionally defined as the act of making decisions based upon the wealth and common good of the residents of this state.
Most of those sworn in Saturday afternoon are not strangers to the office they hold. Charles “Fuzzy” Kazee will return to the Sheriff’s Office for his 9th term, making him the longest serving sheriff in the state of Kentucky.
County Clerk Lillian Pearl Elliot, County Attorney Keith Hall and Judge Eddy Coleman were just of few of the many officials who were also sworn in during the ceremony.
While many of the faces remain the same as staples of the counties political landscape survived or went un-opposed through the November elections, some of the counties newest officials got the opportunity to address the public for the first time.
Two such officials are Laverne Dye, the City of Coal Runs new Mayor and Billy Roger Powell who both got their first chance to talk about plans for their communities at the swearing in.
And even with the edition of new faces a familiar face proclaimed a new beginning for Pike County as Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford was sworn in for his fifth term in office returning after a decade long absence.
“This is a new beginning and I’ve got a great court to work with and we’ve got a big job to do.” Rutherford proclaimed. “We’re the energy capital of American and we’re going to trademark that.”
Music for the county inauguration ceremony was provided by the Pike County Central Band and Chorus. Lori Thornsbury sang a stirring rendition of My Old Kentucky home and Greg Cagle lead the crowd in signing the patriotic standard God Bless America.
The oath, while ceremonial, serves as promise that the people elected to hold office will serve with dignity and to uphold the true meaning of commonwealth; which traditionally defined as the act of making decisions based upon the wealth and common good of the residents of this state.
Most of those sworn in Saturday afternoon are not strangers to the office they hold. Charles “Fuzzy” Kazee will return to the Sheriff’s Office for his 9th term, making him the longest serving sheriff in the state of Kentucky.
County Clerk Lillian Pearl Elliot, County Attorney Keith Hall and Judge Eddy Coleman were just of few of the many officials who were also sworn in during the ceremony.
While many of the faces remain the same as staples of the counties political landscape survived or went un-opposed through the November elections, some of the counties newest officials got the opportunity to address the public for the first time.
Two such officials are Laverne Dye, the City of Coal Runs new Mayor and Billy Roger Powell who both got their first chance to talk about plans for their communities at the swearing in.
And even with the edition of new faces a familiar face proclaimed a new beginning for Pike County as Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford was sworn in for his fifth term in office returning after a decade long absence.
“This is a new beginning and I’ve got a great court to work with and we’ve got a big job to do.” Rutherford proclaimed. “We’re the energy capital of American and we’re going to trademark that.”
Music for the county inauguration ceremony was provided by the Pike County Central Band and Chorus. Lori Thornsbury sang a stirring rendition of My Old Kentucky home and Greg Cagle lead the crowd in signing the patriotic standard God Bless America.
# posted by Justin Mullins @ 4:25 PM 
