The community members that secured their election victories in the 2023 election were invited to the Clinton County Courthouse on Wednesday, Dec. 27 to officially swear-in for their duties.
Elected officials from across Clinton County, including Colfax, Frankfort, Michigantown, Mulberry and Rossville attended the ceremony. Those that did not appear during the ceremony will be sworn-in at a later date, including many town board members and a few councilmembers from Frankfort.
“Today was about swearing in those people that were elected in November as your city and town officials,” Wanda Mitchell, Vice-Chairman of the Clinton County Republican Party, said. “The entire slate was sworn in today, and those that did not show will be sworn in at a later date. It’s your town boards, your Clerk-Treasurers and all your city elected officials.”
Mitchell continued to state that this year’s slate of elected candidates included all but two seats in the Republican Party, with two members of the Rossville community securing their election for the Democratic Party. However, Mitchell continued to express that all elected officials, regardless of their party alignment are elected to serve the people that voted for them, and she stated that she believes the elected officials will follow through on that promise.
“This is the first time that I know of that we’ve had a completely full slate of Republican candidates, however, I believe, and I believe most of you sitting out there realize that their job is to serve the entire citizens of their respective communities and of Clinton County, and I have no doubt that they will do that,” Mitchell said. “Politics, partylines go out the window, and what’s most important is that they serve the citizens of the entire community, and I know that they will do that. I hope that you will support them. I hope that you will encourage them, and I wish you all a blessed 2024.”
Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets secured her election victory in the Republican primaries before running unopposed in the general election. The 2023 election marks the first public election that Sheets has partaken in for Mayor as she was caucused into the position in 2020 for her first term. Sheets previously secured victory in numerous Clerk-Treasurer races prior to taking on the role of Mayor, which prepared her for the election, but she stated that the feeling of being elected by the community she serves has always been a fulfilling experience.
“I’m really excited to be serving the City of Frankfort,” Sheets said. “As you know, the first term I was caucused in February and started my term in March, and this time I’m actually here because of an election that took place. I’m excited about that. I think there’s going to be a lot of great things going on in the next four years, and I love serving my community.”
Frankfort Clerk-Treasurer Carol Bartley was also caucused into the position in 2020 after Sheets left the position to assume the role of Mayor. Bartley echoed Sheets’ sentiments that garnering the vote of the citizens was an outstanding feeling as an elected official.
“I am honored and privileged to be able to do this job for the city,” Bartley said. “I take it very seriously, and I hope to continue to do a great job in the next four years.”
Elected officials from the 2023 election:
City of Frankfort:
Mayor – Judy Sheets
Clerk-Treasurer – Carol Bartley
City Judge – Matthew Beardsley
City Council At-Large – Megan Sheets
City Council At-Large – Eric Woods
City Council District 1 – Clarence Warthan
City Council District 2 – Robert (Joe) Stevens
City Council District 3 – Johnny Large
City Council District 4 – Steve Beardsley
City Council District 5 – Isac Chavez
Colfax:
Clerk-Treasurer – Michael Brothers
Town Board Member – Matthew Coomer
Town Board Member – Chris Grieg
Town Board Member – Dustin Leslie
Town Board Member – Julie Lewellen
Town Board Member – Paul McKillip
Kirklin:
Clerk-Treasurer – Tara Walker
Town Board Member – Melinda Jobe
Town Board Member – Walt Minnick
Town Board Member – Brent Stetler
Michigantown:
Clerk-Treasurer – Pam Wellman
Town Board Member – Carrie Russell
Town Board Member – Rob Surber
Town Board Member – Jeff Wellman
Mulberry:
Clerk-Treasurer – Paula Bennett
Town Board Member – Lindsey Foster
Town Board Member – Dave Jones
Town Board Member – Joey Mitchell
Town Board Member – Randy Ravenscraft
Town Board Member – Lewis Wheeler
Rossville:
Clerk-Treasurer – Brooke Meeks
Town Board Member – Stanley Cox
Town Board Member – Benjamin Kellogg
Town Board Member – Sally McGill