Alpine County's historic courthouse in Markleeville was the scene Monday morning for Superior Court Judge Richard Specchio's administering the oath of office to Henry "Skip" Veatch, Phillip Bennett, Tom Sweeney and Earl O'Neal.
It was a festive gathering as people from the community, family members, a number with small children, and friends gathered outside the courtroom waiting for the trial in progress to finish. At its conclusion they filed into the chamber and occupied the spectators' seats while Veatch, Bennett, Sweeney and O'Neal sat in the jury section.
County Clerk Barbara Howard opened the session by giving a learned account of the origin of the oath of office that was instituted at the founding of the nation.
The oath calls for the individual to agree to support and defend the United States Constitution, and Howard brought the practice up to date. She noted that in California those who take the oath also agree to support and defend its Constitution.
Specchio first called Veatch to the center of the court, asked him to raise his right hand, and administered the oath. Veatch was re-elected to the board of supervisors representing District 2, Woodfords. Bennett, who was also re-elected to the board, was next.
He represents District 3 that comprises the Native American community.
He was followed by newly elected Sweeney as representative of District 5, mostly Markleeville.
The oath was then given to O'Neal who was re-elected to the school district's board of trustees. O'Neal has held that office for a number of years, most recently as chairman.
There was applause as each candidate finished taking the oath of office.
