ROCKINGHAM — Three returning members of the Richmond County Board of Commissioners raised their hands and took their oaths of office early Monday morning.

Commissioners John Garner, Jimmy Capps and Kenneth Robinette were sworn in together by Vickie Daniel, Clerk of Richmond County Superior Court in the commissioners’ chamber of the county administration building.

Capps, who is going into his second term on the board, pulled in the most votes in last month’s election — despite coming in third out of four in the March Democratic primary.

Garner, who had the second-highest number of votes in the primary, also garnered the second-highest number of votes in the election.

Robinette — who had to gather petitions to run as an unaffiliated candidate — had the third-highest vote total in the five-man race, but was part of a recount challenge requested by Tavares Bostic — who was less than one percent behind the board chairman.

The Richmond County Board of Elections held the recount last week, with Robinette remaining on top.

Because N.C. General Statue 153A-26 calls for the oath of office for county officers to be taken the first Monday in December following the general election, the elections board voted to hold the recount earlier than the one for state and other races.

Both Garner and Robinette are entering their sixth terms on the board.

Following the Nov. 8 election, all three commissioners said they were looking forward to keeping the county on the path to prosperity, following an 18-month period of economic development announcements.

This Richmond County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Courtesy photo Commissioners John Garner, left, Kenneth Robinette and Jimmy Capps take their oaths of office Monday morning, administered by Richmond County Clerk of Superior Court Vickie Daniel.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_commishswear16.jpgCourtesy photo Commissioners John Garner, left, Kenneth Robinette and Jimmy Capps take their oaths of office Monday morning, administered by Richmond County Clerk of Superior Court Vickie Daniel.

Staff report