COUNTY OFFICIALS SWORN IN JAN. 1

ELLIS COUNTY – Ellis County officials took their oaths of office earlier this month on Sunday, Jan. 1 with 15 elected officials being sworn in for the term at Waxahachie’s historic courthouse.

The 15 officials included two who had previously been appointed to unexpired terms and were officially elected in November.

There was also one new official who will be serving for the first time, and 12 incumbents who were sworn into the seats they have currently been serving.

Ellis County Judge Todd Little served as Master of the 2023 Oath of Office Ceremony swearing in the incumbents: Judge Bob Carroll, 40th District Court; Judge James “Jim” Chapman, County Court at Law 1; Judge A. Gene Calvert, Jr., County Court at Law 2; Todd Little, County Judge; Commissioner Lane Grayson, Precinct 2; Commissioner Kyle Butler, Precinct 4; Melanie Reed, District Clerk; Krystal Valdez, County Clerk; Cheryl Chambers, County Treasurer; Judge Chris Macon, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1; Judge Jackie Miller, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2; and Judge Dan Cox, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3.

Richard Rozier, Tax Assessor/Collector, and Casey Borders, Constable for Precinct 2, took the oath of office to continue in their current roles after being in those roles for unexpired terms, and Louis Ponder was sworn in for the first time as the new Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4.

Little concluded the ceremony by reading a scripture from Deuteronomy 16:18-20: “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns…and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord is giving to you.”

Visitors attending the ceremony included Reverend Richard Cody, who gave the invocation; Texas State Senator District 2 Bob Hall, led the Pledge of Allegiance made closing statements, and Texas State Representative, District 10 Brian Harrison.