They’re all legal now.
Putnam County’s 12 recently elected officials took their oaths for their respective offices Monday, Dec. 23, in the main courtroom at Putnam County Courthouse. The oaths were administered by Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Brenda H. Trammell after Putnam County Probate Judge Brandy T. Huskins swore her in.
“Heavenly Father, we thank you for today and for allowing us to live in America, the greatest country on earth where days like today are possible, where we have the freedom and liberty to choose our leaders,” Clerk of Court Trevor Addison said as he opened the ceremony with prayer.
As he has done for the last 28 years of swearing-in ceremonies, Sheriff Howard R. Sills gave a brief history of the event, including naming the people who held Putnam County’s elected offices 100 years ago. At that time, he said, there was only one superior court judge for all eight counties in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit.
Trammell later noted that today, there are five superior court judges in the circuit, two of whom live in Putnam County.
After Trammell was sworn in, she swore in Superior Court Judge Stephen A. Bradley, followed by the constitutional officers in alphabetical order: Tax Commissioner Terrell Abernathy, Addison, Huskins, and Sills.
Sills said he is proud and grateful to be the longest-serving constitutional officer in Putnam County. He took his place in front of the judge with his wife, Janet, by his side. Chief Deputy Sheriff Col.
Russell Blenk stood on the other side and held the Bible. Sills explained that when he was sworn in, his wife had the Bible for him to place his left hand on every time in the past, but this year was different.
“This young man (Blenk) has worked for me for 34 years,” Sills said. “He and I have kicked in doors, and we’ve spit in death’s eye; he has truly been my right hand. So, I thought it was appropriate for him to be here today.”
The newly-elected county commissioners were sworn in next.
Thomas H. McElhenney pledged his oath for the second time in as many months. He had been elected in the November election to fill the District 1 seat that was unexpectedly vacated when former Commissioner Gary McElhenney died unexpectedly last summer.
District 2 Commissioner Richard Garrett was not at the Dec. 23 ceremony due to being out of town.
Trammell said Garrett was sworn in before he left.
Charles Trumbo was sworn in as a new member of the Putnam County Board of Education member for the District 4 seat. Re-elected members Carol Ann Guthrie (District 5) and Steven A. Weiner (District 3) also took their oaths.
“So, now you’re sworn in and they can come to you if they’ve got problems, right?” Trammell said to Weiner.
“Absolutely, and the occasional one in 10,000 can say thanks, too,” Weiner replied.
Putnam County Coroner Hollis Harrison was the last on the list to be sworn in, with his wife, Karen, holding the Bible for him.
“Everybody’s legal now,” Trammell said to the crowd, inviting everyone to a reception in the next room. “I thank y’all for coming; thank y’all for being supportive of your elected officials. Congratulate them, for this may be a repeat term for them getting sworn in, or those who are getting sworn in for the first time, let’s make sure we note them.”