J. Scott Herod's nameplate on display. (Katecey Harrell/ Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Two Smith County elected officials took the oath of office in the wood cladded courtroom of the courthouse annex building, where they will make decisions representing their constituents for the length of their four-year terms.

Dozens of constituents, friends and family members filled the chamber Thursday to witness the ceremonies. Christina Drewry was sworn in as Precinct 1 commissioner in the morning, followed by J. Scott Herod, who took the oath as Precinct 3 commissioner later that afternoon.

The Smith County Commissioners Court manages county finances and operations, including creating the annual budget. It is composed of a county judge and four commissioners representing each precinct in the county. The court oversees roads and bridges, appoints department heads and committees and fills vacancies in elective and appointive positions.

With her hand resting on a Bible held by Flint Baptist Church Pastor Sam Deville, Drewry recited the oath administered by County Court-at-Law 2 Judge Sarah Maynard.

Precinct 1 covers Noonday to Bullard from Lake Palestine to Farm-to-Market Road 756.

“I am very excited about the future of Smith County. I’m happy to serve,” Drewry said. “We ran on the message of transparency and accountability, and that’s what I’m going to bring to the table.”

The county needs to operate more efficiently, according to Drewry. Transparency leads to accountability, which will make the county more efficient and fiscally responsible, she said. There’s plenty of work to be done across all departments, and by working together to foster transparency, she believes meaningful changes will occur throughout the county.

Drewry received 95 more votes than the incumbent Pam Frederick, in the March primary. Because the difference was less than 10%, Frederick petitioned for a recount but later conceded.

“I’m a citizen-first candidate. I’m just a regular citizen, not a politician … who’s going to serve the people and put the people first,” Drewry said. “Part of this work that we’re going to do over the next four years is getting the citizens engaged.”

Drewry urged residents to stay connected through her Facebook page and email list. She plans to host town halls to create more opportunities for people to engage with their government. Her focus is on being accessible, with an open-door policy.

She said she’s committed to serving the community in a way that embodies the principles of transparency, accessibility and accountability the nation’s founding voters intended.

Residents can reach her by phone at 903-590-4601 or via email at cdrewry@smith-county.com.

With County Judge Neal Franklin using Herod’s son Landon’s Bible, the new Precinct 3 commissioner was sworn in by County Court-at-Law 3 Judge Clay White. Herod’s family, and friends filed into pews watching, recording and photographing the occasion.

Precinct 3 is the largest of the four commissioners’ precincts in Smith County. It covers the entire northern half of the county and includes several small communities such as Lindale, Winona, part of Overton, Tyler, and Hideaway.

“It’s been a long journey to come here, and I’ve been fortunate to meet so many great people along this pathway,” Herod said. “As we do the swearing in, it’s an opportunity to officially make that announcement and get started on the work ahead.”

Herod said there are challenges to meeting the needs of a county of 250,000 people. Serving Smith County residents is his priority, especially as the county grows and its needs evolve. He said he is committed to understanding what matters most to each resident and focusing on those priorities.

Incumbent Terry Phillips received 198 votes, coming to 10.05%, in the March primary. Herod received 18,668 votes, or 78.41%, while his Democratic opponent Edith Mayfield-Wilson received 5,141 votes, or 21.59%, in November.

“To be supported by these people here, who have gone through this journey with me over the last 18 months, nearly two years, to have them here with me as we get sworn in, it’s a great feeling,” Herod said. “I feel a great deal of pride and humility … Keeping in mind that they’re the very people that I’m doing this for and will be first and foremost in all the decisions I make.”

Herod expressed gratitude and humility, stressing his commitment to being approachable and accessible. He plans to stay active in the community, meeting residents where they are — whether at coffee, church or community events. While providing contact details like phone and email, he wants residents to know he is always available to listen and engage.

Residents can reach Herod by phone at 903-590-4603 or via email at jherod@smith-county.com.

Herod and Drewry will perform duties Tuesday at the first meeting of their terms. The commissioners court meets weekly at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays inside the Smith County Commissioners Courtroom of the courthouse annex building, 200 E. Ferguson St. in downtown Tyler. The public is invited to attend. Members of the public who wish to speak during the public comment portion of a meeting must be present. Online public participation forms may be filled out online at smith-county.com before the meeting but the speaker must attend the meeting in-person.