New county commissioners Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards joined returning commissioner Bruce Castor as the county's new government was sworn in during a ceremony at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell this morning.

"Starting right now, rancor and acrimony will yield to respect and accord," said Shapiro during his remarks after he officially took office.

"There have been zero statements undermining each other in public and zero statements undermining each other in private" since last fall's election, Castor said during his own remarks.

"I think it bodes well. I think good things are going to happen," Castor said.

A color guard detachment of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department raised and lowered the national, state, and county flags atop the dais at the beginning and end of the ceremony, which took place before a nearly full gymnasium at the college's physical education building.

"We go through this pomp and this ceremony because it's designed to remind us of the great charge placed upon us by the people," Castor said during his remarks.

Castor attends Democrat-hosted luncheon with new colleagues

Following the swearing-in ceremony, many of those in attendance traveled to the nearby Meadowlands Country Club in Blue Bell for a post-inauguration luncheon hosted by the Montgomery County Democratic Committee (MCDC).

The most notable guest at the luncheon was Republican commissioner Bruce Castor, who was recognized by MCDC chairman and emcee Marcel Groen for demonstrating a bipartisan attitude towards his future colleagues during the post-election period.

Castor, who spoke for a few moments and thanked the county Democrats for inviting him to the luncheon, acknowledged looking out of place behind a podium with a MCDC placard. 

"If I'd known how well you guys ate, I'd have switched parties long ago," joked Castor.

"I guess you're all my colleagues now," Castor said, motioning to the entire room.

Shapiro said he and Castor had already developed a positive working relationship since the election and reiterated his belief that the new administration would usher in a new era of bipartisan cooperation in county government.

Down to business

The new board of commissioners convened for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. As expected, Shapiro was named chairman. Leslie Richards was named vice-chair.

The board announced that future Board of Commissioners will take place on the first and third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m.

Shapiro said the new board held an executive session prior to the meeting regarding "personnel matters."

Richards thanked planning commission director Kenneth Hughes, who was terminated from his $105,409 position. Richards said the new administration was "moving in a different direction" and that the move was not related to Hughes's performance.