New Onslow County commissioners sworn in

It's been 16 years since a woman has served on the Onslow County Board of Commissioners. Barbara Ikner changed that this week.

The newly elected commissioner took their oath of office Monday night during a ceremony at the Onslow County Courthouse , initiating the third female commissioner to serve on the board in its 140-year history.

W.C. Jarman, Bill Keller, Lionell Midgett, Paul Buchanan and Barbara Ikner swore to support the constitution of the United States and show allegiance to the state of North Carolina and Onslow County and its citizens during the ceremony.

Family members and friends joined the all-Republican commissioners as they took their oaths. Ikner invited former commissioners Sybil Gandy and Barbara Buck to stand with her as she took her oath of office.

"I just am good friends and have known Sybil Gandy my whole life and have heard so many people comment about Barbara Buck," Ikner said. "I just thought it would be appropriate and it would be symbolic to me to have both of them participate in my ceremony."

Gandy was the first woman to sit on the Onslow County Board of Commissioners serving from 1986 to 1992. Buck was the second female commissioner, serving from 1988 to 1992. Since Buck, no females have served on the board.

"I've always felt that the board should be diverse," Ikner said. "I believe a diverse board represents more facets of our community and certainly women are a recognized entity in our county and I believe that women as a whole tend to bring an element of common sense and I hope that's what I can bring to the board."

Both Gandy and Buck said they were glad to stand by Ikner's side.

"I was very honored, I've known her since she was a baby and I've always known she had the ability to do this," Gandy said.

Buck said she was grateful that Gandy paved the way for herself and Ikner to serve on the board.

"I think it's fantastic another woman has been elected," Buck said.

Although this was not the first oath of office he has taken, Keller he said it was certainly "very meaningful."

"I look forward to some hard work and some long hours," he said.

Midgett, who will be serving his second stint on the board of commissioners, said he anticipates working harmoniously with his fellow commissioners.

"I'm looking forward to serving the county for another four years and working with this board and serving the citizens," he said. "I think we'll get the business of the county done in a professional manner."

Following the ceremony the commissioners held an organizational meeting where a chairman and vice chairman of the board were appointed.

 Jarman was appointed as chairman of the board by a unanimous vote and Buchanan was appointed vice chairman for the second time.

"I'm just overwhelmed that the people voted for me to be the chairman by unanimous decision; it hasn't been that way in a while," Jarman said.

Buchanan said he felt "very good" about his appointment to vice chairman.

"I believe it's the beginning of change and I think you're going to see good change," he said.

Contact Jacksonville/Onslow government reporter Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8455 or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.