New officials excited and ready to get started in elected jobs

Former Greene County Sheriff Gene Gastineau, facing the camera was all smiles when he gave Greene Superior Court Judge Dena Martin a big hug after the ceremony. Gastineau said, "That's the first time I ever hugged a judge." (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Order this photo]

Tuesday was a time for Greene County's newly elected officials to savor their respective wins following the Nov. 4 General Election.

It was a time for the officials to take the oath of office for which they were picked by the voters.

And, it was a time to relax before starting their new jobs Jan 1.

Greene County Councilman Rae Della Cravens, at left, was administered her oath of office by Greene Circuit Court Judge Eric Allen. (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Order this photo]

Superior Court Judge Dena A. Martin became the first female to sit on a judicial bench in the county.

Martin was first to be called forward to repeat the oath office read by Greene Circuit Judge Erik Allen.

She was surrounded by her immediate family. Her husband, Dean, held the family Bible while Judge Martin placed her hand on it and repeated her oath. Young daughters, 6-year-old Edan and 3-year-old Ande, looked on.

Martin then was greeted by outgoing Superior Court Judge J. David Holt, who handed over his robe to her.

Holt, who served 20 years as Superior Court Judge, decided not to seek re-election. He will however serve in a "Senior Judge" capacity as needed in area courtrooms.

Martin, who has said that being elected the county's first female judge is the fulfillment of a life-long dream, noted she is eager to get started and pointed out there is a full docket of cases scheduled for her Friday.

"I'm feeling anxious and ready to get started." the lawyer and former educator at Ivy Tech State College said.

While admitting to being slightly emotional on this important day, Judge Martin said, "It's been a long year for us so we are glad that it ended the way it did. I'm excited and relieved and I guess I'm just very emotional."

County Councilman Rae Della Cravens was involved in the longest election race, which wasn't decided until a 2-1 vote Monday by the Greene County Commissioners to break a tie with Republican Ken Gremore, who was seeking re-election to a second term.

Cravens held a one-vote lead going into a two-day recount in early December. The two candidates emerged from the recount and a vote by the Greene County Council locked in a tie.

The commissioners served as the tie-breaker -- based on a seldom-used Indiana election law.

Greene County Treasurer Shelby Meurer, in the middle, was surrounded by her family members when Judge Erik Allen administered her oath of office on Tuesday morning. (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Cravens has plenty of elected office experience -- she served eight years as the county clerk and eight years as county recorder.

Cravens said she is relieved that her extremely close election is finally over.

"Election night lasted eight weeks. I knew Election night this was a recount in the making and wished it wasn't me," she said with a laugh. "It's hard enough just making it to midnight, but this lasted eight weeks."

Greene County Councilman Jerry Frye. (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Cravens continued, "I'm very much relieved that it is over and ready to start in. I am looking forward to it even after all of this (recount). I am actually looking forward to serving on the council. It's a learning experience and there will be a learning curve to go through and I'm very much willing to get in there and participate and learn as much as I can."

Republican Councilman Jerry Frye said he also was happy to be able to take office.

"I feel pretty good about coming through the election and finishing as high as I did," Frye said. "Most of the people that were running with me (on the Republican ticket) didn't make it so that's a representation of how people vote and who they want in office."

District 1 Commissioner Kermit Holtsclaw gets instructions from Circuit Judge Erik Allen while his wife, Bernadene, looks on. (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Frye said he looking forward to helping to do his part to foster economic growth in the county -- and that includes efforts at the WestGate at Crane Tech Park and all over the county.

Frye pointed out it's kind of bittersweet taking office when his GOP colleague, Ken Gremore, will not be taking office after losing a tiebreaker vote from the county commissioners.

"I believe in economic development all over countywide ... and Ken (Gremore) has done a lot. I applaud him for everything he did (at WestGate)," Frye said.

Treasurer Shelby Meurer is no stranger to the courthouse or government service.

She has previously served two terms as treasurer -- 1989 through 1996. During her last four years as treasurer, Meurer was elected to the Indiana Treasurer's Association Board, and the last year she was in office she served as the board president.

For the last 9 1/2 years she has served as Stockton Township Assessor and remained in that office until the position was eliminated by the state government in July.

"I enjoy it. I love working with the public and it's just been a part of life for me for a long time," she said after taking her oath. "I am looking forward to it."

District 1 County Commissioner Kermit Holtsclaw said he was eager to get started in the job for which the voters elected him.

District 2 Commissioner Steve Lindsey, at left, prepares to sign his oath of office affidavit while Circuit Judge Erik Allen explains to him the procedure. (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"I think we've got a big job ahead of us, but I think we can handle it," Holtsclaw said. "Steve (Lindsey) and I have talked with Bart (Beard) a little bit and we have decided that we are going to work together. There will be things happen that people won't like and there will be things happen that we don't like. But there is no reason we can't do what we have to do."

District 2 County Commissioner Steve Lindsey said he was proud to be able to take the oath as county commissioner -- the same as his late father, Richard Lindsey, did when he served from 1958-66.

"I'm looking forward to it. I'm kind of excited about it and want to see what all happens," Lindsey said.

Greene County Surveyor Ira "Butch" Wright. (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]