Local officials take oaths of office Jan. 1

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The public is invited to the ceremonial administration of the oath of office to Burnet County officials at 10:30 a.m. New Year's Day at the Burnet County Courthouse and to a 10 a.m. coffee reception that will begin at 10 a.m.

Each office holder will be sworn in, individually, by an official of choice; many by Burnet County Judge James Oakley.

Local elections were decided in the Republican Primary, since none drew opponents in the Nov. 8 General Election. For some of their number, it will be a first time taking a new office. Incoming Burnet County Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Luther Jr, Precinct 3 County Commissioner Billy Wall and Precinct 3 Constable Leslie Ray are on that list. Millicent “Missy” Bindseil was appointed by the Burnet County Commissioners Court on Dec. 13 to succeed Chris Jett as Burnet County Precinct 4 Constable, but this will be her first ceremony. Jett won his election for a third term, but is stepping aside to accept a position as administrative captain in the sheriff's office.

Burnet County Sheriff-elect Calvin Boyd will join in the ceremony although, for form, he will have been sworn in at midnight as well.

Burnet County Commissioners appointed Roxanne Nelson on Nov. 1, 2015, to fill the unexpired term of former Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Calvin Boyd, who resigned to run for sheriff. She will begin her first elected term.
Debbie Bindseil served more than 10 years on staff of the Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace office. She assumed the unexpired term of Ed Cutchin, when she emerged from the Republican Primary without opposition for the November General Election, but she also is beginning a first elected term.

The complete list of those being sworn in Jan. 1 includes state district officials:

33rd District Judge Allan Garrett, elected for a second term

33rd/424th District Attorney Sonny McAfee, elected for a second term

And Burnet County officials:

Sheriff Calvin Boyd, newly elected

County Attorney Eddie Arredondo, for a fourth term

Tax Assessor Collector Sheri Frazier, for a seventh term

Commissioner Precinct 1 Jim Luther, Jr., newly elected

Commissioner Precinct 3 Billy Wall, newly elected

Constable Precinct 1 Leslie Ray, newly elected.

Constable Precinct 2 Garry Adams, for a second term

Constable Precinct 3 Jimmy Ballard, for a fifth elected term (though, including appointments, he has served all but two years since 1995)

Constable Precinct 4 Missy Bindseil, for a first term

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Roxanne Nelson, for a first term

Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Debbie Bindseil, for a first term by appointment

Office holders and guests are making individual lunch reservations at The Highlander Restaurant, 401 Buchanan Drive in Burnet, following the ceremonies.