A century of Democrat leadership officially ended Thursday afternoon at the Christian County Justice Center, when longtime Republican Jerry Gilliam was sworn in alongside his magistrates as judge-executive of the state’s second-largest county.
Gilliam won a close November race against 24-year incumbent Steve Tribble, and he noted that it’s just now beginning to set in how historic the political shift is in this part of the Commonwealth — and particularly in and around Hopkinsville.
As a former magistrate, Gilliam brings in a lot of experience as to where current county government stands, and where it perhaps needs to head in the future.
He says the county’s finances remain in good standing, and that his goal is to “do the right thing.”
The transition of power truly starts on January 2, and Gilliam added that one of his immediate focuses will be emergency management in Christian County — a reminder that just one year ago, southern Christian County was dealing with the aftermath of an EF3 twister, and later a surprise tornado on New Year’s Day in downtown Hopkinsville.
What’s more, Gilliam said a couple of important county offices will be on the physical move during his tenure.
Gilliam also said the transition from Tribble to him began on November 8, in order to keep such a switch smooth.
He was sworn in amid a packed District Courtroom No. 3 alongside incumbents Rich Leibe, Maggie Ferguson and an in-spirit Phillip Peterson, while new faces in J.E. Pryor, George Barnett, Russ Guffey, John Bruce and Josh Turner join a fray comprised of six Republicans and two Democrats.
