Nine returning county elected officials took their oaths of office last week at a ceremony in the Douglas County Courthouse atrium.

Retired Probate Court judge James Baker served as master of ceremonies for the event.

Baker told those in attendance, “We celebrate the freedom to choose our own leaders that was guaranteed in Benjamin Franklin’s Constitution, and we charge them with administering our county well.”

Those taking their oaths included Douglas County Commission Chairman Tom Worthan; District 2 Commissioner Kelly Robinson; Sheriff Phil Miller, who was re-elected to his fourth term in November; Tax Commissioner Todd Cowan and Coroner Randy Daniel, who has held the coroner’s position for 20 years.

Winston native Rhonda Payne took the oath of office as Clerk of Court for a second term. She has worked in the clerk’s office since 1986 and was appointed clerk of court in 2007 following the death of Cindy Chaffin.

“When I came to work we were still handwriting civil and criminal docket entries,” she said. “Technology is the key. We’ve seen a lot of changes.”

Beau McClain was sworn in as Superior Court judge for his second term.

State Court Judge Eddie Barker, who was named state court judge in 2010 by then-Governor Sonny Perdue, and was selected to a full four-year term in July. Douglas County native Hal Hamrick was elected to a third term as probate court judge in November.

Hamrick’s office is responsible for the probate of wills, issuing of marriage license, death certificates, among other duties.

His court is also responsible for issuing weapon permits in Douglas County, which he stated have been on the rise.