Over a dozen Dawson County government positions were sworn-in today during a ceremony at the Dawson County Government Center.
Native and lifelong resident of Dawson County Billy Thurmond was sworn-in as the new Commission Chairman. Other commissioners sworn-in were re-elected Julie Hughes Nix, District 4, and newly elected Chris Gaines, District 2.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for us to be a more productive county,” Thurmond said. “More cost efficient county.”
Thurmond, the former Director of Emergency Services, also wants the Board of Commissioners to improve their communication with the public. His goal is for the public to have a better understanding of what the commission is trying to accomplish and for the community to get more involved in their local government.
“I think that’s the key for our success,” Thurmond said. “Communicating to one another and then what we’re going to do, we communicate it to the public so they have an understanding and we get good feedback from them.
“It’s their county. We want to do what they want to do.”
Full list of those sworn-in to office:
Re-elected:
District 4 Commissioner Julie Hughes Nix
Chief Magistrate Judge Lisa A. Thurmond
Coroner Ted Bearden
Surveyor Donald Rex Jones
Clerk of Superior Court Justin Power
Probate Judge Jennifer Evans Burt
District 1 Board of Education Doris Cook
District 2 Board of Education Elaine Wilson
District 4 Board of Education Roger D. Slaton
Newly elected:
Commission Chairman Billy Thurmond
District 2 Commissioner Chris Gaines
Sheriff Jeff Johnson
Tax Commissioner Nicole Stewart
