Swearing In Makes New Officials Official

        It was standing room only at East Hampton Town Hall during swearing-in ceremonies for newly elected town officials last Thursday morning.

       With a quiet “Good morning,” prompting a round of applause, incoming Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell commanded the attention of the crowd, which filled the meeting room after a half-hour of coffee, Dreesen’s doughnuts, fruit, and chit-chat in the atrium.

       Mr. Cantwell introduced Barbara Borsack, his “lifelong friend” and former colleague in East Hampton Village, where he was longtime village administrator. Ms. Borsack, the village’s deputy mayor, led a chorus of “God Bless America.”

       Former East Hampton Town Justice James R. Ketcham rose to don his black robe — “to make it official,” he said — before swearing in the new supervisor.

       Steven Tekulsky, who would be sworn in a few minutes later as a new town justice by his friend, Alex Walter, stood in his brand-new judge’s robe, his hand on the shoulder of his elderly mother, seated in the front row wearing a wrist corsage.

       “You knew what to do right away,” Justice Ketcham teased Carole Brennan after her swearing-in as the new town clerk. As a longtime deputy town clerk, Ms. Brennan had participated in many similar official ceremonies.

       She did the honors for her former boss, Fred Overton, who eschewed an incumbent run for town clerk and instead sought, and won, a seat on the town board. “We’re switching sides,” she told Mr. Overton as the two stood at the front of Town Hall, Ms. Brennan with a face full of emotion and a huge grin.

       Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, also taking a seat on the town board, was sworn in by Town Justice Lisa R. Rana. Her husband, Joe Gonzalez, flashed her a smile and a big thumbs-up as she stepped to the side of the room following her oath.

       Ms. Rana then swore in the incumbent highway superintendent, Steve Lynch, and his deputy, Kevin Ahearn.

       “Now we’re going to swear in the new Carole,” Ms. Brennan said before doing the honors for Jeanne Hamilton, a three-decade Town Hall veteran, who replaces Ms. Brennan as the deputy town clerk.