By Charlotte Boynton
![Lincoln County officials pose with Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap (third from left) after their swearing-in ceremony Friday, Jan. 2. From left: Sheriff Todd Brackett, Commissioner William Blodgett, Dunlap, Registrar of Deeds Rebecca Wotton, Register of Probate Catherine Moore, and Treasurer Richard Newell. (Charlotte Boynton photo) Lincoln County officials pose with Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap (third from left) after their swearing-in ceremony Friday, Jan. 2. From left: Sheriff Todd Brackett, Commissioner William Blodgett, Dunlap, Registrar of Deeds Rebecca Wotton, Register of Probate Catherine Moore, and Treasurer Richard Newell. (Charlotte Boynton photo)](http://lincolncountynews.smugmug.com/Staff-Photos/2015/Website/i-87QX4PW/0/O/LCoath6-2-15-CB-3-color.jpg)
Lincoln County officials pose with Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap (third from left) after their swearing-in ceremony Friday, Jan. 2. From left: Sheriff Todd Brackett, Commissioner William Blodgett, Dunlap, Registrar of Deeds Rebecca Wotton, Register of Probate Catherine Moore, and Treasurer Richard Newell. (Charlotte Boynton photo) |
Lincoln County officers were officially sworn in Friday, Jan. 2 by Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, in a ceremony at the 1824 Lincoln County Courthouse, before a state senator, county employees, town officials, family, and friends.
County officers taking their oath who had no opposition in the November election included: Commissioner William Blodgett, who is beginning his sixth four-year term; Sheriff Todd Brackett, beginning his fourth term as sheriff; Treasurer Richard Newell, beginning his second term; and Registrar of Deeds Rebecca Wotton, beginning her second term.
Wotton took over the position in 2009 when former Register of Deeds Marcia Silva retired. Wotton was elected for the first time in 2010. Before stepping into the registrar’s position, she had worked in the deeds office for 22 years.
Catherine Moore was one of three write-in candidates for the office of register of probate in the November 2014 election. She replaces retiring Chester Fossett, who had held the office since 1987. When it was determined that Fossett was not seeking another term, it was too late for a candidate’s name to get on the November ballot. Moore, along with two other candidates, ran as write-in candidates, and Moore was elected.
Moore had been serving as the deputy register of probate since June 2014, and has worked in the probate office for eight years, as well as in the registry of deeds for Lincoln County.
District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau was not present at the swearing-in ceremony. He has served as district attorney for Lincoln County for 21 years. He overcame a challenge in the past election from David Sinclair, of Bath.
Rushlau was first appointed to the position in 1993 by former Maine Gov. John McKernan and has been elected as district attorney for Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Knox, and Waldo counties six times since.
State Sen. Chris Johnson, D-Somerville, was on hand at the swearing-in ceremony to congratulate the re-elected and newly elected county officers. Johnson represents District 13 in the Maine Senate.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, a luncheon was served in the courthouse lobby.