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First female Clinton County commissioner takes oath of office

LANA MUTHLER/THE EXPRESS From left, Clinton County Commissioners Jeffrey Snyder, Angela Harding and Miles Kessinger are shown after being sworn in Friday morning.

LOCK HAVEN — It was history in the making in the large courtroom at the Clinton County Courthouse on Friday morning, as the county’s first ever female commissioner — Angela Harding –was sworn into office.

The Oath of Office Ceremony was an exciting event, filled with pride and congratulations, coupled with history being made as county and municipal elected officials raised their right hands and swore to serve their community and their country with fidelity.

And there was a little history seated on the bench, too

Five Clinton County judges were in attendance to oversee the ceremony, including Craig P. Miller, Michael F. Salisbury, J. Michael Williamson, and retired judges Richard N. Saxton Jr. and Carson V. Brown.

Judge Miller swore in the newly elected officials as Judge Salisbury called out their names.

LANA MUTHLER/THE EXPRESS Five Clinton County judges sat on the bench during swearing-in ceremonies. From left are J. Michael Williamson, Michael F. Salisbury, Craig P. Miller, Richard N. Saxton Jr. and Carson V. Brown.

The commissioners were the first to be sworn in, and Miller had some remarks about each one to share with the audience.

“Commissioner Jeff Snyder is beginning his third term in office. He’s also been elected president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) and will be sworn in next week. He’s president of all the county commissioners in the state. I thought that’s got to be a first for Clinton County,” Judge Miller said.

But after doing a little research, he said he learned that there indeed had been another Clinton County commissioner holding that state office.

The year was 1897 at the County Commissioners Convention in Gettysburg, that Clinton County Commissioner Wilson C. Kress, Esq., was duly elected as the first president of the Association.

Kress was first a teacher and later joined the Army and served in the Civil War. He also served as deputy provost marshal. He was shot in the line of duty, passed the bar after the war and was admitted to practice at May term, 1866. Later he would argue some important cases in the PA Supreme Court.

LANA MUTHLER/THE EXPRESS Clinton County elected officials posed for a group photo after the swearing-in ceremony on Friday. From left, front, auditors Rita O’Brien and Brooke Fravel, prothonotary Cynthia Love, register and recorder Jennifer Hoy, auditor Michelle Crowell, district attorney David Strouse; back, sheriff Kerry Stover, commissioners Jeff Snyder, Angela Harding and Miles Kessinger.

“He was a Republican, just like Snyder,” Miller said, conceding that Snyder is the second commissioner from Clinton County to hold the top office in the state organization.

Kessinger, the top vote getter in the November election, was the next on Miller’s list. And he had some firsts for him.

“He was the first commissioner to resign to take a job as court administrator. He was the first court administrator to retire and then be elected county commissioner. He said he didn’t like retirement.

“And he’s the first county commissioner to be sworn in by a judge who is his cousin,” Miller said, explaining that Kessinger’s great-great-grandfather was married to his great-great-aunt. “So that makes us cousins.”

But perhaps the biggest first of the day was for Angela Harding, who was sworn in as the first-ever female Clinton County commissioner.

Interestingly enough, Miller said, women won the right to vote in 1920 and now … a century later…we have our first female commissioner.

“You should be extremely proud,” he told Harding, who smiled broadly.

Other newcomers to county government taking the oath of office were Cynthia A. Love, prothonotary, and Brooke L. Fravel, auditor.

Also taking the oath were incumbents — district attorney David Strouse, sheriff Kerry W. Stover, register and recorder Jennifer L. Hoy and auditors Rita L. O’Brien and Michelle N. Crowell.

The floor was then opened to municipal officers wishing to take the oath of office during the ceremony. Several made their way to the front of the courtroom and were sworn in by Miller.

Afterwards, there were handshakes and hugs, and photos being taken by the media and family members.

The newly elected men and women will officially begin their terms of office on Monday.

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