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Augusta-Richmond County swears in Commissioners Catherine Smith Rice and Tina Slendak
Summary
At an Augusta-Richmond County ceremony, two commissioners were formally sworn in. Judges administered the constitutional and loyalty oaths; both new-term commissioners spoke briefly and thanked supporters.
The Augusta-Richmond County Commission held oath-of-office ceremonies during its meeting to formally swear in Catherine Smith Rice and Tina Slendak as commissioners.
The two ceremonies opened with judges administering the constitutional oath and a county loyalty oath. Judge John Flythe of the Superior Court of the Augusta Judicial Circuit administered the oath for Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice. Judge Ashley Wright, superior court judge of Augusta-Richmond County, administered the oath for Commissioner Tina Slendak. Each oath included an affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Georgia, and a loyalty oath stating that the sworn official is not the holder of unaccounted public money and is otherwise qualified under state law.
The oaths were followed by brief remarks. Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice thanked attendees and her family and said she looked forward to serving District 3 and the commission. “I look forward to serving and doing the best of my ability to serve you all, district 3 and all of the commissioners of, Augusta Richmond County,” Rice said after the ceremony. She also thanked her husband and son for their support and referenced former Commissioner Fox in inviting people forward for photographs.
Commissioner Tina Slendak said she was “so happy to be sworn in” after months since the May election and thanked supporters and family. Slendak described the decision to seek office as “not easy” and credited community supporters by name, including Shashawn Franham. Both commissioners closed their brief remarks with calls to begin official work — Rice said she was “looking forward to serving,” and Slendak said, “let’s get to work.”
The events were ceremonial; no formal votes or policy actions were taken during the oath proceedings. Photographs were arranged following each oath, and the clerk or staff facilitated signing and presentation of a framed oath document.
Details about the meeting date, time and venue were not specified in the transcript provided. The oaths included standard statutory and constitutional language referencing state law and the U.S. Constitution.
