Bill Fawley sworn in for 7th term as county auditor

Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley was sworn in Thursday afternoon in a ceremony at the Highland County Courthouse.

Highland County Juvenile and Probate Court Judge Kevin Greer swore in Fawley for his seventh term. Fawley was accompanied by wife Dianne, son Will and daughter-in-law Kara, along with other family members, friends, coworkers and fellow county officials.

Greer thanked Fawley for the opportunity to administer the oath of office and joked that he enjoys their conversations, "though I usually listen, rather than speak."

"Bill, I do appreciate a lot of your characteristics and traits," Greer said. "Most of all, you're honest with people. If you need to take a position that may not be popular, you'll do that. We need more politicians that will express their honest opinion."

Greer thanked Fawley for his work in keeping other politicians "fiscally responsible" as well.

Fawley was also sworn in by Ohio Auditor Dave Yost in a ceremony in Columbus Wednesday afternoon during the County Auditors Association of Ohio's Legislative and Executive Meeting.

"A county auditor has one of the most important jobs in the state," Yost said in a press release issued by the Auditor of State's office. "Controlling the tax dollars for an entire county is a great responsibility, and I wish Auditor Fawley the best."

After taking the oath of office, Fawley thanked those in attendance, especially his family members and staff.

"My family's been very supportive through these years and years," Fawley said. "I'm very fortunate. I appreciate my family and my staff. I don't worry about them when I'm gone because I know everything's going to get done. I really appreciate them."

Members of the Highland County Auditor's Office were also sworn in as deputy auditors in a joint ceremony following Fawley's swearing-in ceremony.

"Bill knows what a great job you do," Greer told them. "The demands of his job require him to be out of the office maybe more than most officeholders, and he relies a great deal on your expertise and dealing with the public in a professional way."