New and re-elected commissioners were sworn in Monday night, after a vote recount required a delay in taking their oaths of office.

Republicans Gary Brinn and Hood Richardson and Democrat Jerry Langley were re-elected last month, while Republican Jerry Evans took his seat on the Board of Commissioners for the first time at Monday night’s regular meeting. The meeting, and swearing in ceremony, was postponed a week as the Beaufort County Board of Elections awaited official instructions from the state board regarding the recount. With less than 1 percent of total votes separating fourth-place vote-getter Brinn and fifth-place vote-getter Derik Davis, also a Republican, Davis requested the recount. Brinn won the fourth of four seats on the board by a margin of 60 votes.

For the past year, Langley as served as chairman of the Board, and one of his last acts as chairman was to thank outgoing Commissioner Robert Belcher for his service to the county. Before wishing Belcher “God speed,” Langley read aloud a resolution expressing the entire board’s appreciation for Belcher’s dedication to the job of commissioner for the last four years.

“Robert Belcher has devoted his time, energy and talents unselfishly to Beaufort County and has provided experience, professionalism and sound judgment for the community,” the resolution states.

Belcher ran for re-election in November, but did not win one of the four seats available.

“At this time, I dethrone myself,” Langley jokingly said moments later as the board prepared to elect a new chairman and vice-chairman.

At the nomination of Ron Buzzeo, Commissioner Frankie Waters was voted in, 6-1, as the board’s new chairman; Richardson nominated and voted for himself. Brinn, who served as vice-chairman for the past year, then nominated Richardson as vice-chair, but a 5-2 vote by the board put Langley into the vice-chairman’s role.