Friends and family filled the hearing room as Democrats took official control of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners Jan 6 in a swearing-in ceremony officiated by Judge Edward D. Reibman, president judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County.

“It’s a wonderful occasion tonight,” Reibman said.

“I’d like to call up Bob Elbich,” Reibman said as he designated the first commissioner, he would induct that evening. “Just so you know, Bob came up with a book, and the book is the Constitution of the United States.”

After taking the oath of office, Elbich addressed the crowd. “I will do every thing in my power to do the best for every citizen of the County of Lehigh.”

The judge then called up David Harrington. “I learned tonight, and I’m not surprised, that Dave is an Eagle Scout,” Reibman said before commencing the brief ceremony to confirm Harrington.

“I think the Lehigh County that we will build will be better than what was given us,” Harrington said after thanking his family and friends for their support. “I stand for our county – every corner of it,” Harrington said.

Reibman then called Zakiya Smalls to the dais. After a brief recitation of the oath of office with her hand on a Bible, Smalls addressed the crowd. “I stand here representing those who have not been heard, but will be heard,” Smalls said.

That Zakiya Smalls is the first black woman to be elected as Lehigh County Commissioner added a sense of history to the proceedings.

Reibman then swore in Dan Hartzell who, like the others, was accompanied by his family. “People have called me naïve Dan. I believe it’s better to be naïve Dan than cynical Dan. I refuse to be caught up in the easy cynicism that our country has gotten into at all levels. When we disagree, we are going to disagree agreeably, and that’s the way it’s going to be with me.”

Also marking a milestone is the fact the LQBTQ County Commissioner, Amy Zanelli, was elected president of the board of commissioners. Zanelli is generally credited with leading the successful Democratic take over of the board of commissioners which will presumably bode well for future cooperation with the Democrat-led Lehigh County Administration lead by Executive Phillips Armstrong.

After electing Zanelli as president, the board deviated from recent practice and elected a Republican member, Marc Grammes as vice president. This, according to one member of the board, was part of the leadership’s desire to seek bi-partisan cooperation.

Rabbi Seth Phillips of the Congregation Keneseth Israel of Allentown offered the opening invocation and the closing benediction.