Liberty County has new and returning leaders to kick off the New Year. At a swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 2, in the 75th State District Courtroom in the Liberty County Courthouse, a dozen elected officials placed their hands on a Bible and swore to uphold the laws and standards of their respective offices.
County Judge Jay Knight, who is beginning his second four-year term in office, welcomed citizens who braved the bleak and rainy winter weather to watch the officials take their oaths.
In his opening remarks, Knight addressed the changes that are taking place in the county as a result of unprecedented growth, adding that he is confident the leadership that is currently in place is capable of handling these challenges as they come.
“I am happy to see the commissioners working well with each other. We are going to see a lot of changes. In the next four years, the Grand Parkway will open. Get ready. Not only that, you will see other thoroughfares that will open up throughout the county,” Knight said. “You’ll see a change in the demographics in our county. You’ll see a whole lot of things you’ve never seen before. Will we be that same rural county that we’ve been for 183 years? No.”
Knight says the changes in the county actually began in 1979 with a decline in farming.
“Land use changed. Now we have to go back and reevaluate the plan. Some of the land sat idle for quite a while. Some things were done in areas of the county and people weren’t particularly happy about it,” he said. “I will say this, the commissioners have worked hard to make sure it never happens again.”
Knight is known for his love of workshops and mentioned there were more than 50 workshops in 2018 alone. He believes the workshops give commissioners and the public an opportunity to hash out issues and seek solutions.
“There are things coming [to Liberty County] and we will need your help,” he said to the packed courtroom. “When we have these workshops, you are invited. They are public meetings. If it is an item of concern to you, come to it. Voice your opinion. How else will we know what you want? It helps to keep us moving in a positive manner.”
The officials sworn in on Jan. 2 include:
- 75th State District Judge Mark Morefield
- County Judge Jay Knight
- County Court at Law Judge Thomas “Tommy” Chambers
- District Clerk Delia Sellers
- County Clerk Lee Haidusek Chambers
- County Treasurer Kim Harris
- Pct. 2 Commissioner Greg Arthur
- Pct. 4 Commissioner Leon Wilson
- Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Stephen Hebert
- Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Larry Wilburn
- Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace Ralph Fuller
- County Surveyor John Moorman
Knight explained that 253rd State District Judge Chap B. Cain, Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Ronnie Davis, Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Cody Parrish and Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Wade Brown were sworn in prior to the ceremony.
Liberty County Judge Jay Knight (middle), having just been sworn in to another term of office, is congratulated by former Liberty County Judge Lloyd “Tookie” Kirkham, who officiated his swearing-in. Jan Knight, Jay’s wife, held the family’s old Bible for the ceremony. 
Liberty County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers (left) swears in 75th State District Court Judge Mark Morefield to another term in office on Wednesday, Jan. 2, in Morefield’s courtroom. 
Liberty County Judge Jay Knight welcomes attendees to a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected and reelected officials on Wednesday, Jan. 2, in the 75th District Courtroom at the Liberty County Courthouse in Liberty. 
Newly elected and reelected Liberty County officials were sworn in at a ceremony Wednesday, Jan. 2, in the 75th District Courtroom in Liberty. Pictured are (front row, left to right) District Clerk Delia Sellers, County Clerk Lee Haidusek Chambers and County Treasurer Kim Harris; (second row) Pct. 4 Commissioner Leon Wilson, 75th State District Court Judge Mark Morefield, Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Larry Wilburn, County Judge Jay Knight, Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace Ralph Fuller, Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Stephen Hebert, Pct. 2 Commissioner Greg Arthur, County Surveyor John Moorman and County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers. Standing in the back is former Liberty County Judge Lloyd “Tookie” Kirkham, who swore in some of the officials. 
With his hand on his late grandmother’s Bible and held by his wife, Jan, Liberty County Judge Jay Knight takes the oath of office from former Liberty County Judge Lloyd “Tookie” Kirkham on Wednesday, Jan. 2, in the 75th District Courtroom in Liberty. 
Judge Mark Morefield of the 75th State District Court congratulates County Clerk Lee Haidusek Chambers and her mother, Shirley Haidusek, following her swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 2, in Morefield’s courtroom in Liberty. 
County Clerk Lee Haidusek Chambers recites her oath of office as it is read by 75th State District Judge Mark Morefield. Chambers brought along her mother, Shirley Haidusek, to hold the Bible for the swearing-in. 
Lee Haidusek Chambers (center) brought along her mother, Shirley Haidusek, and the Chambers family Bible to be sworn in during a ceremony Wednesday, Jan. 2, in the 75th State District Courtroom of the Honorable Mark Morefield (left). 
With her hand on the Bible once owned by the late District Clerk Joy Kay McManus, newly elected District Clerk Delia Sellers takes the oath of office with 75th State District Judge Mark Morefield officiating. Holding the Bible at left is Brenda McManus Fairchild, Joy Kay’s daughter. Sellers is no stranger to political office. She previously held the position of county clerk for several years. 
Judge Mark Morefield, who presides over the 75th State District Court, explains the importance of the Bible being held by incoming District Clerk Delia Sellers. The Bible once belonged to the late Joy Kay McManus, who Morefield said set the gold standard for district clerks. When it came time to swear Sellers in, McManus’ daughter, Brenda McManus Fairchild, tearfully held her mother’s Bible while Sellers placed her hand on it and recited the oath. 
Judge Mark Morefield, who presides over the 75th State District Court, explains the importance of the Bible being held by incoming District Clerk Delia Sellers. The Bible once belonged to the late Joy Kay McManus, who Morefield said set the gold standard for district clerks. When it came time to swear Sellers in, McManus’ daughter, Brenda McManus Fairchild, tearfully held her mother’s Bible while Sellers placed her hand on it and recited the oath. 
Liberty County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers raises his right hand and swears to uphold his office for another term. Swearing in Chambers on Jan. 2 in the 75th State District Courtroom in Liberty was former county judge, Lloyd “Tookie” Kirkham. 
A jubilant Lee Haidusek Chambers thanks everyone for supporting and electing her as county clerk. She and other officials were sworn in during a ceremony on Jan. 2 in the 75th State District Courtroom in Liberty. 
Liberty County Judge Jay Knight explains the significance of the Bible he holds to County Treasurer Kim Harris shortly before Harris was sworn in to another term on Jan. 2. The worn and well-used Bible once belonged to Knight’s grandmother. 
Liberty County Treasurer Kim Harris raises her right hand and swears to uphold the laws pertaining to the office of county treasurer. Her oath of office was officiated by County Judge Jay Knight in the 75th State District Courtroom in Liberty on Jan. 2. 
Liberty County Judge Jay Knight congratulates County Treasurer Kim Harris after she is sworn in to another term of office on Jan. 2. 
Pct. 2 Commissioner Greg Arthur is sworn in to a second term as commissioner during a ceremony on Jan. 2 in the 75th State District Courtroom in Liberty. His wife, Dana, holds a Bible for the swearing-in, which was officiated by former Liberty County Judge Lloyd “Tookie” Kirkham. Arthur previously served eight years as sheriff and has spent nearly all of his adult life in public service, previously working for Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Department of Public Safety. 
Pct. 4 Commissioner Leon Wilson brought along nearly his entire staff for his swearing-in on Jan. 2 in the 75th State District Courtroom in Liberty. 
With most of his staff standing behind him in support, Pct. 4 Commissioner Leon Wilson (right) swears in to another term of office as his wife, Amanda, holds a Bible and Judge Mark Morefield administers the oath. 
Judge Mark Morefield of the 75th State District Court (left) congratulates Pct. 4 Leon Wilson shortly after administering Wilson’s oath of office on Jan. 2. 
Liberty County Judge Jay Knight describes the exciting growth that is coming to the county at the swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 2 in the 75th District Courtroom in Liberty. 
Dede Taylor, court coordinator for County Judge Jay Knight, watches as County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers signs the oaths of office for the officials he swore in on Jan. 2. 
Liberty County Surveyor John Moorman (right) is sworn in by County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers on Jan. 2 in the 75th State District Courtroom in Liberty. 
Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace Ralph Fuller is congratulated by County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers. 
Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace Ralph Fuller stands alongside his wife as he is sworn in to another term in office by County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers (left). 
Pct. 4 Constable Robby Thornton congratulates Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Larry Wilburn after his swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 2 in the 75th State District Courtroom in Liberty. 
Pct. 4 Constable Robby Thornton administers the oath of office to Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Larry Wilburn in a ceremony on Jan. 2 in the 75th State District Courtroom in Liberty. 
Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Stephen Hebert is sworn in to another term by County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers. Holding the Bible is Hebert’s wife, Julie. 
Liberty County District Clerk Delia Sellers (left) is being joined in the district clerk’s office by former District Clerk Melody Gilmore, who will serve as her chief clerk. Sellers previously served as county clerk. 
County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers and County Clerk Lee Haidusek Chambers are pictured with their family members following a swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 2, in the Liberty County Courthouse.