Elected Officials Sworn In
Houston County Courier -  January 2009
By Sharron Randall
Staff Writer
editorial@houstoncountycourier.com

On Thursday, Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. in the District Court Room, Houston County Court House, the Honorable Pam Foster Fletcher was sworn in as judge of the 249th Judicial District by Houston County Judge Lonnie Hunt, and then proceeded to give the oath of office to Donna Gordon Kaspar, Roger Dickey, Pat Perry, Daphne Session, Darrel Bobbitt, Danette Millican, Morris Luker, Kenneth "Red" Smith and approximately 40 deputies from the sheriff's office.
Judge Hunt welcomed the newly elected officials, their families, friends, and community members after Rev. Kenny Bush, pastor of Percilla Community Church gave the invocation, after quoting from the King James Version, Proverbs 29:2: When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.
The courtroom benches were packed, observers lined the walls, the jury box was full and people even stood out in the hallway as first, Ms. Kaspar was sworn in as District Attorney, Dickey as Precinct 1 Commissioner, and Perry as Precinct 3 Commissioner.
After pausing momentarily to regain her composure and surrounded by family members, Miss Session emotionally recited her oath of office as county attorney, followed by Sheriff Darrel Bobbitt and Ms. Millican as tax assessor-collector.
Constable, Precinct 1 Luker and Constable, Precinct 2 Smith were sworn in by using the same Bible as the other officials, which was provided by Judge Fletcher.
Every individual sworn in signed his/her oath of office: "I, do solemnly swear or affirm, that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of the State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State, so help me God."
In addition, each elected or appointed official signed a statement of affirmation refuting any direct or indirect contribution or promise as a reward to win the elected office.
To culminate the swearing in ceremony, some 40 deputies from Houston County Sheriff's Office were sworn in by District Judge Pam Foster Fletcher after she administered the oath of office to Sheriff Darrel Bobbitt.
A reception followed Don Gordon's benediction.  Gordon, the former district attorney of the 349th Judicial District, is the father of Mrs. Kaspar.
See related photos of swearing in ceremony for elected officials and deputies on Page B-5.