New Harrisburg City Council member Crystal Davis was sworn into office by Judge Hanif Johnson.
Kicking off the new year, many recently elected officials took office on Tuesday.
Harrisburg City Council and Dauphin County officials were sworn in at separate ceremonies, including newcomers to council and to the county’s board of commissioners.
During a morning ceremony at city hall, Dauphin County Magisterial District Judge Hanif Johnson swore in council president Danielle Bowers for her second term, alongside Crystal Davis, a new council member. The third member, Lamont Jones, also a newcomer, attended the ceremony, but was officially sworn into office at the county courthouse last week.
“The joy was in the journey,” Davis said. “This is like the topping of it all. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues and looking at different avenues to support our community.”
Davis shared that one of her initial priorities on council will be to support affordable housing development. Jones said that education is important to him, including helping to inform the public on where to go with complaints and concerns.
Soon after the ceremony, council held its reorganizational meeting, unanimously electing Bowers to serve as council president for another term. In a vote of 4-3, council chose Ausha Green to serve as vice president for a second term, as well.
Council president Danielle Bowers was sworn in.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to continue to serve the residents,” Bowers said. “I’m excited for the new year and to get started.”
Bowers said that, this term, she will focus on initiatives related to affordable housing, economic development and public safety.
Also mid-morning on Tuesday, at the Hilton Harrisburg, Dauphin County swore in several public officials, including several newcomers.
Incumbent county commissioners George Hartwick, a Democrat who has served for 20 years, and Mike Pries, a Republican who took office in 2010, again took the oath of office.
Dauphin County Judge Scott Evans swore in Commissioner Mike Pries.
In November, Democratic challenger Justin Douglas was elected as the third commissioner, replacing Chad Saylor, and flipping the board to Democratic control for the first time in over a century.
Douglas attended the county’s ceremony but was sworn in at a separate ceremony early on Tuesday morning in Conewago Township, where he lives.
“A lot of important work lies ahead, and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together for the residents of Dauphin County,” Douglas said. “I recognize there’s much for me to learn and I look forward to growing in my knowledge and understanding.”
County Commissioner Justin Douglas
According to Pries, priorities for 2024 will include finding additional funding for the county’s 9-1-1 dispatch service and fighting illegal dumping. During his campaign, Douglas shared that he would seek reform at the Dauphin County Prison and focus on improving mental health services.
The following county officials were also officially sworn in on Tuesday:
- President Judge Scott Evans
- Judge William Tully
- Judge Courtney Powell (newly elected)
- Controller Mary Bateman
- District Attorney Francis Chardo
- Sheriff Nicholas Chimienti, Jr.
- Treasurer Nick DiFrancesco, Treasurer (newly elected)
- Register of Wills/ Clerk of Orphans Court Jean Marfizo King
- Clerk of Courts Bridget Whitley (newly elected)
- Recorder of Deeds Jim Zugay
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