The nine Muskegon County Commissioners were sworn into office on Thursday, Jan. 3. Front row (l-r): Ken Mahoney, Charles Nash, Susie Hughes, Terry Sabo and Rillastine Wilkins. Back row (l-r): Bob Scolnik, Ben Cross, Marve Engle and Jim Derezinski.

This year was different though, since former Commissioner John Snider was not there to run against him, as in previous years.

Mahoney, a Democrat, will lead the newly formed nine-person board, as chair for a one-year term for the fifth time.

District 2 Commissioner Ben Cross nominated Mahoney by motion, which was then seconded by District 7 Commissioner Jim Derezinski. No other commissioners were nominated for the position of chairman. Charles Nash, newly appointed commissioner for District 3, made a motion to unanimously vote Mahoney as chairman, which was then passed.

“I want to thank the commissioners for their support and with your help we can make this a much better county in the next year,” Mahoney said.

The board knew this year would bring a new vice-chairman, because Snider served in previous years. As with years passed, Derezinski nominated District 1 Commissioner Rillastine Wilkins as vice-chair. Last year, Wilkins was nominated but removed her name from the vote, but this year was voted in unanimously by the commissioners.