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Bonner County officials sworn in; commissioners elect Williams chair, Korn vice chair
Summary
Bonner County held a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected and re-elected officials. Commissioners nominated and voted to name Commissioner Williams as chair and Commissioner Korn as vice chair, after brief remarks and a discussion about rotating the chairmanship.
Bonner County held a swearing-in ceremony during which county officials took oaths of office and the Board of County Commissioners selected its chair and vice chair.
At the ceremony, Brian Domke was sworn in as a Bonner County commissioner; Dennis Englehart took the oath as county assessor; and Darryl Wheeler was sworn in as county sheriff. Commissioners then moved to organize the board leadership for the coming term. Commissioner Williams was nominated and elected chair; Commissioner Korn was elected vice chair after a roll-call vote in which one member recorded an abstention.
The nominations included a short policy explanation from the commissioner who nominated Williams. The nominator said the chairperson role adds responsibilities on top of commissioners’ equal authorities and proposed that the board consider rotating the chair to share that responsibility. The nominator said he intends to present a plan in about eight months to rotate the chair position on an eight-month cycle so all three commissioners would share the role across a 24-month term. That proposal was offered as intent for future consideration and was not part of the formal nomination vote.
“My sincere thanks to God the Father, the Son and the Spirit for providing me with clarity, with wisdom, with strength to be a public servant,” Brian Domke, newly sworn Bonner County commissioner, said after taking the oath. Domke thanked his family and community supporters and asked residents to hold him accountable to his oath.
Darryl Wheeler, after being sworn in as Bonner County sheriff, said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve another term and said he looks forward to keeping the county safe. Dennis Englehart, sworn in as county assessor, thanked voters and his staff for their support.
On the leadership votes, the board recorded the following outcomes: Williams was elected chair by roll-call vote after a motion to nominate Williams and a second; Korn was elected vice chair in a separate roll-call vote in which two members voted yes and one member abstained. The clerk called roll for each action and the chair congratulated the successful nominees.
The ceremony included a brief invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance before the oaths; ceremonial details such as the use of family Bibles by some officials were mentioned during the ceremony. The meeting concluded after concluding remarks from newly sworn officials and a short organizational session to confirm the board’s officers.
Votes at a glance
- Motion: Nominate Commissioner Williams as chairperson of the Bonner County Board of Commissioners. Mover: Brian Domke. Second: Ron Horn. Roll-call result: Williams — yes; Brian Domke — yes; Commissioner Korn — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Motion: Nominate Commissioner Korn as vice chair. Mover: Commissioner Korn (self-nomination indicated). Second: (second recorded). Roll-call result: Williams — yes; Brian Domke — yes; Commissioner Korn — abstain. Outcome: approved.
Ending
The swearing-in and organization session concluded with brief remarks from the newly sworn officials and an invitation for the public to depart. The board noted an intention to revisit a proposal to rotate the chairmanship later in the term.
