New, returning elected officials take oath of office in Centre County

New and returning elected officials were sworn into office on Monday across Centre County.

A swearing-in ceremony was held at the Centre County Courthouse for officials including new Magisterial District Judge Greg Koehle. District Attorney Bernie Cantorna, who ran unopposed in November’s election, was sworn in for his second term in office. The ceremony also included jury commissioners Hope Miller and Shelley Thompson and Bellefonte Borough Council members Barbara Dann, Shawna McKean, Johanna Sedgwick, Randy Brachbill and Rita Purnell.

Shortly after outgoing members’ final State College Borough Council meeting on Monday, mayor Ezra Nanes was sworn in to office, along with new council members Divine Lipscomb, Gopal Balachandran and Richard Biever. The new council then came to order, voting for Jesse Barlow to serve another term as borough council president.

In Ferguson Township, a historic all-female board of supervisors is set to take office after a 5:30 p.m. swearing-in ceremony led by Centre County President Judge Pamela Ruest, who is the first woman president judge of the Centre County Court of Common Pleas. Supervisors-elect Tierra Williams and Hilary Caldwell won the November election, along with incumbent Lisa Strickland.