Butler County officials sworn into office Thursday

Butler County’s elected officials and law enforcement personnel were sworn in Thursday morning in preparation for their new terms beginning in 2021.

Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett conducted the ceremony in the Division 1 courtroom.

“It still means a lot to me to swear other people in,” Pritchett said. “They have a lot of responsibilities. They put themselves out there to serve the community, and I know they all take their roles very seriously.”

Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett (right) is sworn in for his final term by Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce Thursday.DAR/Paul Davis

Up first were elected officeholders and their staffs, including assessor Chris Rickman, Treasurer Tammy Marler, county commissioners Boots LeGrand and Butch Anderson and more.

Jeff Darnell, a western district commissioner from 2001 to 2016, was sworn is as the county’s newest public administrator, elected to the position after defeating incumbent Sharron Payne.

“I’m looking forward to serving the clients, and we’ll give 100% and see if we can make it run as smooth as possible,” Darnell said.

Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett (left) swears in Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs and his staff during Thursday’s ceremony at the Butler County courthouse.DAR/Paul Davis

Jim Akers, Butler County’s coroner from 2009 to 2016, again was sworn into the position after defeating incumbent Andy Moore.

“I really appreciate all those who voted for me, and I’m going to work hard to not let them down,” Akers said.

The coroner’s office, he said, has a lot of work to do.

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us to get the county back into the position it was for emergency preparedness, and I’m going to work close with Robbie Myers and the emergency management system to get that done,” Akers stressed.

“There have been some procedural things, like child death review panels, that have not been done the last four years, and I’m going to get that fixed. We’re going to get everything back up and running as Butler County should be,” he said.

Presiding Commissioner Vince Lampe said he was proud of the county’s staff.

“I feel that Butler County has one of the best staffs throughout the state. We work together well, and we worked together through the pandemic … I think everything is going to move on in 2021,” Lampe said.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs and his staff, including five new deputies (four present) also were sworn into office, and Dobbs reflected on the possibility this may be his last term.

“I never would have thought I would do two of these, much less five in a row. It’s been a good experience, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Dobbs said. “This very well may be my last swearing in. Four years from now will be decision time.”

Dobbs noted he is “proud of what we’ve accomplished the last 16 years, and I’m looking forward to the next four.”

Pritchett, heading into his final term as presiding circuit judge, was the last to be sworn in, with Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce doing the honors.

“When I was sworn in the first time, it really meant a lot to me, and it does cause me to pause because this is the last time I will be sworn in. I will only be able to serve three years of this six-year term,” Pritchett said.

The county’s presiding circuit judge since 2011, Pritchett will be required to retire in three years due to age restrictions imposed by the state.

“It’s something to think about, but it makes me appreciate even more the opportunity to do what I do,” he said.