New sheriff, commissioners take oaths of office

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Jimmy Ashe, who late last year left his position at the Sheriff's Department after 20 years to campaign for sheriff, was administered the oath of office in front of a packed courtroom Monday morning. After swearing to uphold the laws of the land, Ashe addressed the more than 200 supported in attendance.

"This is an important day in my life," Ashe said. "Any of us who have chosen law enforcement as a career aspire to rise to positions of leadership - in both our profession and community - and I am privileged to stand before you today."

Ashe continued by expressing the importance of such occasions as Monday's, which he termed "testaments to the blessings of our democracy."

Ashe also touched on his leadership plans.

Ashe concluded his remarks by thanking his supporters and promising to never give them cause to regret their decision to support him.

"I am humbled by this honor and by your presence here today," he said. "I shall never violate your trust, and I shall forever strive to fulfill your expectations."

Ashe, who joined the Sheriff's Department in 1981 as a jailer, was promoted to detective in 1986. He earned the ranks of major and chief deputy under Sheriff Jim Cruzan, whom he challenged and defeated in this year's delayed Democratic primary. Ashe went on to defeat his Republican opponent, Curtis Lambert, with 67 percent of the vote.

In addition to administering the oath to Ashe, Resident Superior Court Judge Marlene Hyatt swore Clerk of Court Frank Watson to his seventh term. Soil Sediment Supervisor John Wittekind was also administered the oath of office Monday morning.

Later that day, all five members of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners took the oath of office, also administered by Judge Hyatt. Sworn in before a smaller audience and with their families at their sides were Chairman Stacy Buchanan and Commissioners Roberta Crawford, Brian McMahan, Joe Cowan and Eddie Madden.

As his first order of business, Buchanan recognized the service records of each of the former commissioners - Jay Denton, Franz Whitmire and Conrad Burrell - by highlighting their more than 90 years of combined public service. Both Denton and Whitmire were employed by the school system for many years, while Burrell served 24 years as register of deeds before running for commissioner four years ago. Buchanan presented each with a plaque to take home and one that will hang in the commissioners' board room.

Before giving up his seat, Denton, who decided not to seek a second term, listed the prior board's accomplishments, including its effort to see to fruition several campaign promises. The list of achievements included the board's successful handling of its finances (as was brought out in last month's audit report) when most of the state and its counties continue to face budget crises and the reduction of government by consolidating county offices.

"The first capital improvement plan ever adopted in this county was approved by this board," Denton said. Included in that plan was the construction of a recreation center in Cullowhee, a new jail and Sheriff's Department, a construction and demolition transfer station and improvements at the county-operated Andrews Park on Lake Glenville.

Major school infrastructure improvements were also included in the plan. Additional classroom space was approved for Smokey Mountain and Fairview elementary schools, as well as at Blue Ridge School, while funds were allocated for an auditorium at the new Scotts Creek Elementary. Members also approved extensive construction and remodeling efforts at 40-year-old Smoky Mountain High, while some $200,000 was used to install computers in the schools.

"We have taxed and we have spent, but we have not wasted," Denton said.

In his parting comments, Burrell thanked the community for giving him the opportunity to serve a combined 28 years. He acknowledged Denton's list of accomplishments, which were achieved even though "we haven't always agreed, but you didn't elect us to be rubber stamps and agree on everything."

"We daringly took some things to task," Whitmire said when it was his turn. "We did what we thought was right."

Whitmire concluded by giving credit for the board's success to finance officer Darlene Fox, who received a standing ovation for her efforts.

Getting down to the business of the evening, the newly-sworn commissioners addressed nine agenda items geared toward reorganization of board meetings. First up was the election of Crawford as vice chairman, followed by approval of bonds for both the sheriff and register of deeds.

Board members selected Evelyn Baker, the county manager's administrative assistant, to serve as clerk to the board and named Sylva lawyer Paul Holt county attorney. Baker replaced longtime clerk Fox, while Holt, who also serves as legal counsel for the Jackson County Board of Education, returned to a position he last held with county government eight years ago.

After approving new "Rules of Procedure" for board meetings, commissioners established the second and third Tuesdays of each month for their regular meetings, which will start at 6 p.m. The next meeting of the board will be Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Board members also adopted a resolution authorizing county Manager Ken Westmoreland to administer the county personnel policies, in addition to giving him the authority to hire and fire employees. "The county manager shall report each appointment, suspension or removal to the board at the first regular meeting following" the action, the resolution says.

Finally, in various configurations, board members appointed themselves to 17 different advisory boards, committees and councils.

Sheriff addresses supporters

"This is an important day in my life. Any of us who have chosen law enforcement as a career aspire to rise to positions of leadership in both our profession and community, and I am privileged to stand before you today.

"But more importantly, and in the face of our nation's challenges, occasions such as these are testaments to the blessings of our democracy. For as we are assembled here today similarly sheriffs throughout our state are being sworn into office. And in the coming weeks, the voices of the people will be evidenced in similar ceremonies as legislators, mayors and governors throughout the land assume their new duties in the aftermath of the political process.

"To become your Sheriff required my participation in that process. But the administration of justice must not know political party nor bias nor favor, but only the fair and equitable enforcement of the laws that are at the very foundation of our civilized society. And I give you today my solemn promise that I shall never abandon my commitment to that principle.

"The fabric of our community is made of many threads. Many of us have been here our entire lives. Others have found the beauty of these mountains to be the very purpose for becoming our neighbors. Some of us look different and perhaps talk differently. We may attend different houses of worship or have differing opinions on the issues of the day.

"But these many threads, when bound together, become a cloth, a cloth we call a community. For regardless of our differences, our roles as responsible citizens, neighbors and parents compel us to agree that the safety of our homes, our streets, our schools and our children will always be the uncompromising priorities that bind us together. These are the considerations that will allow us to be a single community committed to the collective good.

"Under my administration deputies will understand that their enforcement of the law is in the furtherance of public service. Quality of life and community partnership will be the foundation of our organizational values. Our deputies will understand and accept these values, for they shall be as sacred as their oaths of office.

"From them, I shall ask much, and from you I shall ask even more, for there are limits to what 45 personnel can do alone. But when your Sheriff's Office joins, in collaboration, with thousands of community partners, the possibilities are boundless, and so too will our sense of well being, security and faith that together we can make a difference.

"As evidenced by the presence here today of representatives of several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, we, too, constitute a community. Our interagency cooperation will be an important measure of our shared resolve to address the many challenges that lie ahead, and I look forward to working with each of you.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am humbled by this honor and by your presence here today. I shall never violate your trust and I shall forever strive to fulfill your expectations.

"To our deputies and to you, I say, 'Let's get to work.'"

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