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from Joe Gentile- Columbia-Greene Media
COLUMBIA COUNTY — Construction cleared Wednesday inside the Columbia County Courthouse, at 401 State St., for an audience of nearly 100 to embrace county Judge Jonathan Nichols and county Sheriff David Bartlett as they ascended to their elected offices from the lobby's marble staircase.
Comments made by Rep. Chris Gibson, R-19, cited Nichols' "universal degree of admiration and respect," from both major political parties, as a reason the acting Columbia County judge had run unopposed on the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines last November. He later administered the judge's oath of office.
"I'm happy to be here with these leaders of character," Gibson said. "You think about the work of a judge, and the fact that Judge Nichols ran unopposed was remarkable to me."
Surrounded by family, Bartlett recited his oath of office as his wife, Lori, held the Bible that Nichols used. He later credited New York State Police Troop K Commander Major Robin Benzinger, outgoing Columbia County Sheriff David "Bubba" Harrison and former county Sheriff Paul Proper Sr., in the audience, for their displayed leadership and continued inspiration.
"He (Proper) is the reason I'm here," Bartlett said. "He believed in me way back in 1984."
More than 50 current and former law enforcement officers in attendance Wednesday, spanning multiple local and state agencies, later accompanied Bartlett on the sweeping marble staircase for a group shot.
In addition to Bartlett, Nichols administered oaths of office to Columbia County Coroner Angelo Nero, new County Undersheriff John Davi, and elected officials from the towns of Chatham, Claverack, Greenport and Taghkanic, in individual groups.
"I've got to say, for the people of Claverack, this is the team," Town Supervisor Clifford "Kippy" Weigelt said. "This is the team. We got voted in as a team."