County officers sworn in Jan. 1

County officers starting new terms of office were sworn in during a brief ceremony held in the courtroom of the Shackelford County Courthouse last week.

County justice of the peace James Breeden officiated for most of the informal meeting on Tuesday morning, Jan. 1, swearing in two incumbents, including district and county clerk Cheri Hawkins and county treasurer Tammy Brown. Precinct 4 commissioner Cody Jordan will be sworn in later.

Breeden also swore in two newly elected officials – Precinct 2 commissioner Ace Reames and county judge Robert (Bob) Skelton.

Once Skelton formally took office, he in turn performed the required ceremony for Breeden, who is also beginning a new term this month.

All six county residents were unopposed for election to their offices on the Nov. 6 ballot. 

Skelton defeated two opponents in the March Republican primary, while Jordan also defeated an opponent in the primary. Reames was the winner in a two-person run-off election in May after that number was trimmed down from four candidates in the March primary. .

Traditionally, the swearing-in ceremony takes place on New Year’s Day, but county officers have 48 hours after that to make their new terms official.

After the formal oaths, the county officials signed bonds and prepared to begin their Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2022 terms of office.