County officials take oath


Thursday, January 5, 2012
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County officials take oath

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photo by Sue Watson

Judge James D. “Jimmy” Maxwell of Oxford chats with circuit clerk Lucy Carpenter after the ceremony. Carpenter is the longest serving circuit clerk in Marshall County and the State of Mississippi.

Newly elected county officials were sworn in before the Honorable James D. “Jimmy” Maxwell Tuesday with words of advice.

Maxwell, judge with the Mississippi Court of Appeals, presented lofty suggestions to those taking the oath of office.

After offering congratulations, Maxwell quoted Mark Twain, who said, “When you are in politics, you are in a wasp’s nest with a short shirt tail.”

“The wasp nest Mr. Twain mentions includes those decisions you have to make that are with you during the day and at night,” Maxwell said. “They are on your mind.”

Maxwell said politicians are not given credit for the easy decisions they make.

“Your legacy of leadership, what is going to define you, is how you respond to the tough decisions,” the judge said. “If you stand tall, have courage to make difficult decisions that are unpopular, you are going to get strong along the way.

“Everybody will attest, as Mississippians and Americans, we are tired of politics and political decisions. Americans and Mississippians want people to stand tall, to lead, not to hide and turn away from those wasps Mr. Twain talked about.”

Photos by Sue Watson

Judge James D. “Jimmy” Maxwell of Oxford (far right) swears in Marshall County elected officials during a ceremony Tuesday morning at the courthouse.

He asked those duly elected to do three things – “trust your gut and common sense, that’s what got you here; be fair to all and seek the counsel of others, nobody knows everything; and to be true to yourself and to all the good people in Marshall County.”

Lucy Carpenter (starting her 10th term), the longest serving circuit clerk in Marshall County and the State of Mississippi, took her oath with newcomers to office, Mae Garrison, justice court judge; Jerry Moore, superintendent of education; Charles Terry, supervisor District 1; and Antjuan Lester, constable south district.

After all officials were sworn in, they signed their oaths of office before Judge Maxwell, then deputies of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department stood for their oath.

Those sworn in were Charles Terry, Eddie Dixon, Keith Taylor, George Zinn III, and Ronnie Joe Bennett, board of supervisors in order of their districts; county-wide officials James R. Anderson (coroner), Shirley Byers (county attorney), Betty Byrd (tax collector), Lucy Carpenter (circuit clerk), Kenny Dickerson (sheriff), Juanita Dillard (tax assessor), Jerry Moore (superintendent), C.W. “Chuck” Thomas (chancery clerk); justice court judges Ernest Cunningham and Mae Garrison; and constables Johnny Fitch and Antjuan Lester.

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