Schuylkill County Commissioner Larry Padora was elected chairman of the board of commissioners at their annual reorganization meeting Tuesday morning at the Schuylkill County Courthouse.

Padora, a former New Ringgold Borough councilman, took his seat as a commissioner for the first time.

A Republican, Padora succeeds fellow Republican Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington as chairman. Hetherington was elected to his first full term after being appointed in 2020 to fill the unexpired term of the late Frank Staudenmeier.

Democratic Commissioner Gary Hess, who has served since 2011, also took his seat for another four-year term.

Padora was also elected chairman of the county salary board, at its reorganization meeting, which occurred right after the commissioners’ meeting.

“Thank you,” Padora said after the votes. “I look to Boots and Gary for help.”

Hetherington added, “It’s time to put the nonsense behind us,” obviously a reference to the controversy surrounding former Commissioner George Halcovage.

The commissioners adopted Roberts Rules of Order, and the Affirmative Action policy for the county for 2024.

They also set their meeting dates. The commissioners’ work sessions will be held the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 10 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room at the courthouse, and their regular meetings the second and fourth Wednesdays at the same time and place.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 10, followed by a salary board meeting. The prison board reorganization meeting will be held the same day, followed by a prison board meeting