Johnson County swears in district attorney, sheriff and three county commissioners

Johnson County formally installed five elected officials at a 2025 inaugural ceremony, where each took the oath of office after being introduced by family members or community leaders and after the county canvassing board’s certification on Nov. 15, 2024.

The officials sworn in were District Attorney Stephen (Steve) Howe; Byron Roberson, elected sheriff; Jeff Myers, reelected county commissioner for the 2nd district; Julie Brewer, elected commissioner for the 3rd district; and Shirley Allen Brand, reelected commissioner for the 6th district. The oath for each office was administered by the honorable chief judge Draghi of the 10th Judicial Circuit.

The ceremony served to mark the start of the officials’ new terms and to allow each officeholder to speak briefly to supporters. The event combined ceremonial oath-taking with short remarks that emphasized public safety, community service and local priorities.

District Attorney Steve Howe thanked his family and the staff of the district attorney’s office and said he looked forward to a four-year term. "We will continue to work on innovative policies and practices with our criminal justice partners to find solutions," Howe said, adding his office would focus on "public safety and not politics." Howe also said he would strive for "fair and equitable enforcement of the laws."

Byron Roberson, introduced by his wife, Stacy Roberson, pledged to lead the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office "by example" and to ensure equal treatment for residents. "It is my goal to ensure that the Johnson County Sheriff's Office is looked at as a partner in a community and that we can be dependent upon to do whatever it takes to make sure that everyone is treated equally," Roberson said as part of his remarks before taking the oath.

Jeff Myers, sworn in for a second term as commissioner from the 2nd district, was introduced by his daughters. Myers recited three guiding precepts his family had shared with him: "Do what's right. Do the best you can. And treat others the way you want to be treated." He thanked campaign staff, family and county employees and pledged to continue serving the county.

Julie Brewer, newly elected to represent the 3rd district, was introduced by Stacy Graham of CNA Insurance, who served as Brewer’s campaign treasurer. Brewer emphasized resident-focused service and said, "How we show up matters," describing collaboration with residents, staff and other officials as central to future work.

Shirley Allen Brand, reelected to the 6th district, highlighted priorities for her term, including economic development, infrastructure, continued fire district consolidation, broadband in unincorporated areas and working with the sheriff’s office on unincorporated-area public safety. She also cited private-sector investment in her district, naming Panasonic and Honeywell among businesses active in the area.

The ceremony closed with a brief reception announced by the chair of the Board of County Commissioners. Officials and speakers repeatedly thanked family, campaign volunteers and county staff. The county clerk and the chair assisted in the proceedings; each oath referenced support from the canvassing board’s Nov. 15, 2024 certification of election results.