San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

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  • Elizabeth Sumter speaks during her swearing-in ceremony. (Daily Record photo by Anita Miller)

    Sumter
December 12, 2006

‘You have inspired me’

Sumter sworn in as county judge

By Brad Rollins

San Marcos — Pledging not to forget that she serves the people, Elizabeth Sumter was formally sworn-in as county judge during a Sunday afternoon ceremony on the courthouse steps.

Her term does not begin until Jan. 1 but candidates traditionally hold a ceremonial swearing-in the month before actually taking office. She told a crowd she later said numbered about 250 that they would be heard in her administration, which will confront roads, water and public service systems overloaded by rapid growth.

“I am humbled by the fact that you have chosen me to serve you and I am going to carry that with me every single day,” the Wimberley resident said. ...”You have inspired me. You certainly have inspired me to be the best county judge possible and I hope to do that for all of you.”

Carried into office by a largely grassroots campaign that toppled a well-funded incumbent, Sumter, a Democrat, took Republican Jim Powers to task for becoming too cozy with developers and crossing ethical lines in mixing his personal and county business. Raising and spending less than $10,000 and borrowing heavily to finance a campaign, she spread her message through a committed network of volunteers. With a campaign chest of over $100,000, Powers aired professionally produced television commercials and sent out glossy mailers. In the end, Sumter won 52.2 percent of the vote to Power’s 47.7 percent.

Now she will have to transition from activist to administrator as she assembles a government and crafts coalitions and policy to tackle problems.

“I have high hopes that we will come together as a community for a common vision that will address your desires, your wants, your needs, your concerns for all of Hays County and move us forward,” she told the crowd. “I look forward to making those visions, that common vision, into a reality.”

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