Bucks County Swears In Officials During Packed Inauguration Ceremony

Bucks County’s commissioners, judges, district judges, row officers and constables were sworn in Monday in Doylestown.

The newly renovated meeting room in the former Bucks County Courthouse was packed as the county’s three commissioners and various row officers took their oaths for their latest terms.

Republican commissioners Robert Loughery of Bedminster and Charley Martin of Upper Southampton were sworn in by Judge Rea Boylan. Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat from Levittown, was sworn in by District Judge Daniel Baranoski.

With their families standing beside them, Dr. Joseph Campbell was sworn in for another term as coroner, Don Petrille took the oath for his second term as register of wills, Mary Smithson was sworn in for another term as clerk of courts and Thomas Panzer took the oath for his first term as treasurer. All the newly sworn in row officers are Republicans.

President Judge Jeffrey Finley and judges Brian McGuffin and Raymond McHugh were sworn in privately Monday morning.

Earlier in the morning, Bucks County’s reelected and new district judges were sworn in. None of the Levittown-area judge seats were up for grabs last year. However, former Levittown-area constable Mick Petrucci was sworn in as district judge for Newtown, Wrightstown and Upper Makefield.

Reelected and newly elected constables were sworn in during a ceremony later in the day.

Loughery acknowledged God during his inauguration speech and promised to continue to serve the residents of Bucks County.

Ellis-Marseglia, pointing out that she is the lone Democratic commissioner, and told the packed room that she will do her best to vet the county’s spending and work to serve the mentally ill, foster children and those who need help.

“Time flies in the blink of an eye,” Loughery said, recalling his first swearing in four years previous.