Desong Desong sworn in as Jones County commissioner; agenda approved by voice vote

Desong Desong was sworn in as a commissioner of Jones County during a swearing-in ceremony held Jan. 7, and the meeting agenda was approved by voice vote.

The ceremony included the formal oath required of county officials. During the oath, Desong repeated, “I, a citizen of the state of Georgia and being an employee of Jones County and the recipient of public funds for services rendered as such employee, do hereby solemnly swear and affirm that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Georgia, so help me God.” The oath also included a statement that the sworn official met required residency and qualification conditions under state law.

After the oath, participants signed paperwork and posed for photographs for print and social media. Earlier in the brief meeting sequence, the group approved the meeting agenda after a motion and a second; the approval was recorded by voice vote with members responding “aye.” The transcript did not identify who moved or seconded the motion and did not record individual roll-call vote tallies.

The event was informal in tone at times, with staff and attendees arranging photos and talking after the oath. Organizers asked the newly sworn commissioners to sign documents before leaving and arranged a photo for a newspaper and a separate photo for social media.

No ordinances, resolutions, contracts or other substantive policy items were debated or decided in the portion of the meeting captured in the transcript. The ceremony and the agenda approval were the only formal actions recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.