By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWhen Roger Mauzy began as coroner 18 years ago, it was a position he learned as he gained experience.Now Warren County presiding commissioner, the top elected position countywide, Mauzy sees many similarities as he tries to get up to speed on his new duties.“I can learn this one too,” he said. “It will catch on eventually.”Mauzy, along with several countywide elected officials, began their terms Jan. 1. A swearing-in ceremony was held Dec. 31 in the commission chambers.Mauzy succeeds longtime commissioner Arden Engelage, who he defeated in the August primary election. Engelage had been presiding commissioner for the past eight years and spent 10 years prior to that as Southern District commissioner.Looking forward to his new position, Mauzy said he plans to remain an advocate for safety improvements to county roads, wants to see wages increased for county employees and feels there is a need for a no-kill animal shelter in the county. Economic growth is important as well.“I want to see businesses come in,” Mauzy told The Record. “We can’t do anything without revenue. I would like to promote businesses to come out here. For whatever reason, we’re not getting them out there. We’re getting them, but it’s slowly. That way we can build up revenue and increase wages.”Though Mauzy will miss certain aspects of being coroner, he is happy to be leading the county in another role.“It’s a great county,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a better county to represent. I think we need growth and I would like to be part of that. In this position maybe I can.”Other countywide elected officials that were recently sworn in include Collector Julie Schaumberg, Circuit Clerk Brenda Eggering, Recorder of Deeds Debbie Engemann, Treasurer Jeff Hoelscher, Prosecuting Attorney Kelly King, County Clerk Barb Daly, Associate Circuit Judge (Division 2) Richard Scheibe and Associate Circuit Judge (Division 3) Mike Wright.Of the group, Hoelscher and Schaumberg join Mauzy as new faces in their positions. Both also got a jump-start to help in their transition.Hoelscher has worked alongside the retiring Gene Cornell for the past month. Cornell had served as treasurer for the past 20 years.“Gene was really great training with me,” Hoelscher said.He will miss his time spent as public administrator, a position he held for the past five years.“Some I took care of felt like family,” Hoelscher said. “You took care of them and made sure they were taken care of.”Schaumberg won’t officially become collector until March 2. Linda Stude, who is retiring, will continue to fill the position until the tax collection season winds down.In the meantime, Schaumberg will continue to work alongside Stude, which she has done since August.“I am really excited to get started in March,” Schaumberg said. “The training has been invaluable. That has been great for me. That will make the transition work very nicely.”Daly has the longest-standing tenure of any current elected official. She begins her 13th year and fifth four-year term as county clerk.Both Engemann and Eggering are starting their second four-year terms, while King, Scheibe and Wright start their first full terms in their positions. King, who has been in office since November, is serving a four-year term. Scheibe and Wright, meanwhile, have six-year terms.A ceremony was held Dec. 31 to swear in the new county elected officials. They began their terms Jan. 1. Pictured, from left, are Treasurer Jeff Hoelscher, Recorder of Deeds Debbie Engemann, Circuit Clerk Brenda Eggering, Collector Julie Schaumberg, Presiding Commissioner Roger Mauzy, Associate Circuit Judge Richard Scheibe and Prosecuting Attorney Kelly King. Jana Todd photo.
