(The Center Square) – Secretary of State Elaine Marshall pledged her oath of office on Thursday, getting past two delays from winter weather.
First elected in November 1996, she’s beginning her eighth term with a sixth different governor and possessing the longest active tenure of the 10 Council of State seats. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler will be the final of the executive offices to be sworn in early next month.
Among the matriarchs of the state’s Democrats, Marshall was the first woman elected to statewide office. She’s 79 years young and on track to have 32 consecutive years in the office.
Marshall told The Center Square in a one-on-one interview in September, “It’s historic, and it’s also astonishing to me because I didn’t grow up dreaming that I would be even a lawyer, let alone running a major office in government. I didn’t dream big enough for myself.”
Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt presided in the ceremony and state Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs administered the oath.
Troxler is scheduled for a swearing in on Feb. 6 at the annual Ag Development Forum on the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Marshall and Troxler were originally going to pledge their oath at the Inauguration Ball on Jan. 11, when eight others would do so ceremonially.
Seven members of the Council of State did the oath ceremony on Jan. 1 – Gov. Josh Stein, Hunt, Attorney General Jeff Jackson, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, Auditor Dave Boliek, Treasurer Brad Briner and education Superintendent Mo Green. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley pledged his oath on Jan. 2.
