HUNTSVILLE | Scott County’s newly-elected officials will take office on Tuesday — and re-elected officials will begin their new terms.
The incoming officials were sworn in Friday evening by Scott County General Sessions Judge Scarlet Ellis during a ceremony at the Scott County Justice Center.
Dennis Jeffers will assume the county’s highest elected office, county mayor. The only other new county official is Amanda Chambers Sexton, who will assume her duties as county court clerk. Stepping away from those positions will be Jerried Jeffers and Felicia Bilbrey.
Beginning new terms Tuesday will be Sheriff Brian Keeton, Road Superintendent Kelvin King, County Attorney John Beaty, Circuit Court Clerk Donnie Phillips, Register of Deeds Ashley Newport Riseden, and Trustee Rena Erwin.
Beaty is the longest-tenured county official, and will begin his eighth term on Tuesday. He’s followed, in terms of longevity, by Phillips, who is beginning his sixth term. King and Riseden are beginning their third terms, while Keeton and Erwin are beginning their second terms.
The only county official who was not up for re-election this year was Assessor of Property Tiffany Jeffers, who will next be on the ballot in August 2028.
There were also five new commissioners and two new school board members elected earlier this month. In the 1st District, Allen “Ladd” Phillips was elected to County Commission and Rhonda Marlow Davis was elected to school board. In the 3rd District, Mike Keeton and Dacy Williams were elected to County Commission. In the 5th District, Zach Strunk was elected to County Commission. In the 6th District, Jason Perry was elected to County Commission. In the Oneida Special School District, Stuart Jones was elected to school board.
The five new commissioners will meet for the first time on Tuesday, Sept. 8, when County Commission meets in work session. The monthly workshop is typically the first Monday of each month, but that is Labor Day, a county holiday.
Sept. 8 will also be the first meeting for Jeffers in his role as county mayor. Although not a constitutional requirement, the county mayor has the option to serve as the commission’s chairman — and traditionally does. One of Jeffers’ first duties as mayor will be recommending members of County Commission’s standing committees, which include the Budget Committee, Finance Committee, Intergovernmental Committee, Building & Grounds Committee, Emergency Services Committee, Community Development Committee, and Ethics Committee.
