photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

New Douglas County District Attorney Dakota Loomis takes the oath of office on Jan. 13, 2025.

With hands raised and a room full of supporters and county employees on hand, a host of Douglas County elected officials took their oaths of office and began their terms on Monday.

The ceremony in the newly renovated Douglas County Commission meeting room featured several officials who were taking the oath for the first time. Monday marked the beginning of the term for the following first time elected officials: District Attorney Dakota Loomis, who replaced Suzanne Valdez, who lost her bid for re-election; County Commissioner Erika Anderson, who filled one of two new seats on the Douglas County Commission; County Commissioner Gene Dorsey, who filled the other new seat on the County Commission.

Two incumbents on the County Commission — Shannon Reid and Karen Willey — also were sworn in, as were the incumbents in the County Clerk, Register of Deeds and Sheriff’s offices. Douglas County Treasurer Adam Rains also won re-election during the November election, however, he won’t take the oath of office until October, which is when Kansas law dictates that the term of office for county treasurers begin.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Four of the five Douglas County commissioners took the oath of office on Monday at the Douglas County Courthouse. Karen Willey, Gene Dorsey, Erica Anderson, and Shannon Reid all were sworn in at the ceremony. Willey and Reid are incumbents who won re-election, while Dorsey and Anderson won the two newly created seats on the commission. The fifth commissioner, Patrick Kelly, is in the middle of his four-year term, and thus did not have to take the oath, which is reserved for officials who are beginning a new term.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Douglas County Commissioner Shannon Reid is administered the oath of office by Douglas County District Court Chief Judge James McCabria on Jan. 13, 2025.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew signs paperwork after receiving the oath of office on Jan. 13, 2025. All officials who took the oath — which involves promises to uphold both the U.S. and Kansas constitutions — must also sign the oath to make their term in office official.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Monday’s oath of office ceremony also included key deputies in several departments, including County Clerk, Register of Deeds and the Sheriff’s departments. Above, Douglas County Undersheriff Stacy Simmons visits with Douglas County District Court Chief Judge James McCabria.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Erica Anderson and Gene Dorsey are the two new Douglas County Commissioners who filled seats created when the commission expanded to five members. The pair visited prior to Monday’s oath of office ceremony.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

New Douglas County District Attorney Dakota Loomis visits with Major Steve Buchholz of the Douglas County Sheriff’s department following the oath of office ceremony on Jan. 13, 2025 at the Douglas County Courthouse.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Douglas County Register of Deeds Kent Brown visits with state Sen. Marci Francisco after Monday’s oath of office ceremony at the Douglas County Courthouse.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew addresses the crowd, which filled all the seats in the Douglas County Commission room, prior to the oath of office ceremony on Jan. 13, 2025.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Monday’s oath of office ceremony was the first major public event in the renovated commission room. The room has been re-oriented to make room for two additional county commissioners. The dais now faces the entrance to the room, where it previously was off to the side of the room.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Monday’s oath of office ceremony was the first major public event in the renovated commission room.