Jan. 1 marks not only the beginning of a new year, but also the beginning of new terms for newly elected Jefferson County officials.

County Judge Jeff Branick said he is not having a formal swearing-in ceremony.

All of the elected officials will be technically sworn in at midnight New Year’s Day. The county has to have people in those positions at that time because the incumbents’ terms officially end Dec. 31.

Mitch Templeton will take over as new 172nd District Court judge after winning the November election against Melody Chappell.

Templeton will have a ceremonial swearing in 11 a.m. Jan. 4 at the Jefferson County Courthouse in the jury impaneling room. His predecessor, Donald Floyd, will swear him in.

“It won’t be long,” Templeton said. “Nobody likes long, drawn-out ceremonies. We’ll have a short speech. I’m going to use my deceased father’s Bible. My wife will be there and I expect my sons, Caleb and Joshua, will robe me.”

Templeton said he has been busy since being elected.

“I’ve been very busy
closing down my practice,” he said. “You have to get everyone a new lawyer. It’s a time-consuming, arduous task, because I have a significant civil practice. It’s tougher to get those people transitioned to the new lawyer.

“For a lot of clients, he doesn’t do that kind of work, so I had to get them a new lawyer. I spent a week in Austin at New Judges school the week of Dec. 9. It was the largest New Judges school ever.”

Winners on the Democratic Party side will have a joint ceremonial swearing in at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the jury impaneling room at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

“I’m ready,” Incoming County Treasurer Charlie Hallmark said. “I’ve been ready to get back in public service for awhile. Everything has lined up just right. I’m in a good place with my family and financially. The timing is just perfect.”

Hallmark said he, too, has been busy since the election, preparing his real estate business.

“It’s been absolutely nuts,” he said. “I wanted to sit down and spend some time with people that helped me on the campaign trail, but I simply haven’t had the time. I spent 15 years building my business and I want my clients to know that they are going to be in good hands. I’ve just been tying up loose ends.”

County Clerk Carolyn Guidry, Precinct 1 Constable Jevonne Pollard and Precinct 1 Place 2 Justice of the Peace Ben Collins will also be sworn in Wednesday.

Pollard’s official swearing in came during a commissioners’ court meeting Nov. 20 after interim constable Charlie Wiggins requested a transfer from the precinct.