MILTON — The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners has five members once again with Sam Parker, Bob Cole, Lane Lynchard, Rob Williamson and Don Salter.
Judge Robert Hilliard on Tuesday administered the oath of office ceremony.
Parker, the board’s newest member, who won Jayer Williamson's vacated District 1 seat, thanked voters and said he wants to work on infrastructure, promoting tourism and industrial parks, expanding recreation opportunities, and maybe "start building a courthouse."
Don Salter, entering his fifth term, is now the longest-serving commissioner. He thanked his family for their support and said, "We've gone through Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Dennis, oil spills, depressions, recessions, and we're still strong.”
After a board vote, Commissioner Rob Williamson received the gavel as board chairman from Commissioner Lane Lynchard.
Williamson said he wants to focus on local option sales tax implementation, budgeting, infrastructure and quality of life.
Lynchard said one of his goals over this year was reducing the county's tax burden on property owners. He cited the passage of the local option sales tax as a success in this area.
The next commission meeting is Dec. 5.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: County Commission takes oath of office