Charles Jones is the new chairman of the Douglas County Commission.

In a unanimous vote Monday, commissioners elected Jones to a one-year term as chairman. The Democrat is entering his sixth year as a commissioner.

Jones takes over for Bob Johnson, a Republican who served as chairman in 2001. Fellow Republican Jere McElhaney was chairman in 2002.

The chairman’s job carries no additional powers, other than running meetings, nominating appointments to advisory boards and serving as commission spokesman. But all three commissioners said Monday’s move reflected a collective ability to rise above partisan politics.

“That, to me, is the way it should be,” said Johnson, now the commission’s vice chairman.

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