- November 7, 2024
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Donald O'Brien, Nate McLaughlin, David Sullivan and Charlie Ericksen (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
David Sullivan takes the oath of office to become a Flagler County Commissioner. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Donald O'Brien takes the oath of office to become a Flagler County Commissioner (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Charlie Ericksen takes the oath of office after being re-elected to the Flagler County Commission, as former commissioner George Hanns hold the Bible and the mic. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Flagler County swore in two new county commissioners and one returning, re-elected commissioner at a special meeting Nov. 22.
David Sullivan and Donald O’Brien took their seats at the dais for the first time, succeeding, respectively, former commissioner Barbara Revels, who served for eight years; and former commissioner George Hanns, who served for 24 years.
Charlie Ericksen, a commissioner first elected in 2012, won re-election against challenger Jason DeLorenzo and was sworn in again.
In their remarks at the end of the meeting, Sullivan and O’Brien both thanked the public and their predecessors on the board.
Sullivan thanked Revels for “eight years of service on this board and the many good things she has accomplished.” He said that before the day’s swearing in ceremony, he’d spoken with County Clerk Gail Wadsworth, who’d showed him the minutes from the county’s very first County Commission meeting, in July of 1917.
“The first board members were serious about their positions, and I intend to follow in their footsteps with what I hope will be the same attention to the job as we enter our 100th year,” Sullivan said.
O’Brien said he remembered how former Palm Coast city councilman Bill McGuire had written down and regularly referred to his campaign goals. He said he planned to do the same, and then listed some of his goals:
“Accountability, making sure we get to rewriting our strategic plan and moving forward and planning for the future, coordination and cooperation with our cities, engagement with the citizens and increased engagement though social media, and newsletters, town halls … and also, very importantly, supporting the job creators in our local economy,” he said.
Speaking of his predecessor, Hanns, O’Brien said that it’s “not easy to succeed a legend.” He referred to a passage in the biography of John Adams by David McCullough, in which Thomas Jefferson arrives in France as U.S. ambassador, and is asked by the French foreign minister if he was replacing his predecessor Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson had replied, “I succeed. No one can replace him.”
“That’s how I feel about Mr. Hanns: Nobody replaces him," O'Brien said. "As I said at the beginning, I’m humbled to be your servant, I look forward to getting started.”
With the recent election, voters voted out the board’s only two Democrats, Hanns and Revels, and the board is now composed entirely of Republicans.
Sullivan, O’Brien and Ericksen — plus current commissioner Nate McLaughlin, whose seat was not up for election this year — comprise the entirety of the Board of County Commissioners at this time.
The commission’s fifth seat, for District 2, has gone unfilled since Commissioner Frank Meeker died this past July. It will be filled by gubernatorial appointment.
The commission voted unanimously at the special Nov. 22 meeting to approve McLaughlin as its chairman, and Ericksen as its vice chairman.
