EASLEY — Members of the newly elected Pickens County delegation were sworn in Monday morning in the delegation office located in West End Hall.

Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell was asked to administer the Oath of Office to Reps. Neal Collins, Davey Hiott and Gary Clary along with Sens. Rex Rice and Thomas Alexander after Judge Perry Gravely called the delegation to say he was stuck in court and wouldn’t be able to make it until later that afternoon.

“You OK with that, Mayor?” asked Hiott.

“Yeah, I think I can handle all these one-lined sentences,” Bagwell joked while looking over the Oath. “You’ve got to realize now — you’ve talked about the number of times you’ve been sworn in? When I finish these three years, I will have 40 years in government.”

“We ought to all send him (Gravely) a text saying ‘thanks a lot’,” Clary said and laughed. “Tell him we found someone better.”

Following the Oath, the delegation’s first official meeting took place in which motions were put forth to name Hiott as chairman of the delegation and Collins as secretary.

Both motions passed unanimously.

“Congratulations to each and every one of you,” said Hiott. “I look forward to serving with you. I’ve served with everyone here — Rex is back again and I look forward to his time in the Senate. We all have a good working relationship and we’ve had a good one for a number of years and I look forward to having that again.”

Reps. Neal Collins, far left, Davey Hiott, second from the left, and Gary Clary, third from the right, took the Oath of Office on Monday with Sens. Rex Rice, second from the right, and Thomas Alexander, third from the left. Ruth Rice, far right, holds the Bible the new delegation swore in upon.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_023.jpgReps. Neal Collins, far left, Davey Hiott, second from the left, and Gary Clary, third from the right, took the Oath of Office on Monday with Sens. Rex Rice, second from the right, and Thomas Alexander, third from the left. Ruth Rice, far right, holds the Bible the new delegation swore in upon. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell swore in the new delegation after Judge Perry Gravely got stuck in court and could not attend.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_027.jpgEasley Mayor Larry Bagwell swore in the new delegation after Judge Perry Gravely got stuck in court and could not attend. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

The new Pickens County delegation was sworn into office on Monday morning at West End Hall.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_032.jpgThe new Pickens County delegation was sworn into office on Monday morning at West End Hall. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@civitasmedia.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.