Montco's New Government Takes Its Seats

New county commissioners Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards joined returning commissioner Bruce Castor as the county's new government was sworn in during a ceremony at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell this morning.

"Starting right now, rancor and acrimony will yield to respect and accord," said Shapiro during his remarks after he officially took office.

"There have been zero statements undermining each other in public and zero statements undermining each other in private" since last fall's election, Castor said during his own remarks.

"I think it bodes well. I think good things are going to happen," Castor said.

A color guard detachment of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department raised and lowered the national, state, and county flags atop the dais at the beginning and end of the ceremony, which took place before a nearly full gymnasium at the college's physical education building.

"We go through this pomp and this ceremony because it's designed to remind us of the great charge placed upon us by the people," Castor said during his remarks.

We'll have more on the swearing-in ceremony later today.