Bob Ellis was sworn in as a Fulton County commissioner during a brief ceremony that included a prayer by Fulton County chaplain Reverend Clifton Dawkins and the oath of office administered by Judge Jean Barwick. Ellis and his wife, Jennifer, stood together for the oath and the subsequent county loyalty oath.

The ceremony opened with Reverend Dawkins offering a prayer asking for strength and guidance for Ellis, including the invocation, “Bless his wife. Bless his family. Bless his loved ones.” Judge Jean Barwick then administered the oath; Ellis repeated the oath of office and later repeated a county loyalty oath affirming his support for the constitutions and laws referenced in the ceremony.

After taking the oaths, Ellis delivered brief remarks thanking family members and staff. He singled out his wife, Jennifer, for support and thanked staff members Diane and Renee. Ellis introduced Rob Harbor as his new chief of staff and referred to the recent loss of a longtime member of his team without giving further public details. He also thanked fellow commissioners in attendance — including Chairman Pitts, Commissioner Barrett, Commissioner Thorne and Commissioner Ivory — and said he looked forward to working with the commission beginning Wednesday.

The event was described in the remarks as intentionally low-key compared with earlier inaugurations and veterans of prior swearing-ins attended. No formal votes or policy actions took place; the ceremony consisted of the prayer, the oath administration, a county loyalty oath, and Ellis’s remarks of thanks.