Adam Streight became the fourth Cecil County Executive after being sworn in on Monday.
Straight, a Republican and long-time Cecil County Sheriff's sergeant, succeeds Danielle Hornberger. Streight defeated the one-term county executive in a primary battle.
A release stated that Streight's administration "is committed to addressing two critical priorities: advancing education and enhancing public safety."
"Serving as Cecil County's County Executive is the honor of a lifetime," Streight stated. "Together, we will invest in our schools, protect our neighborhoods, and build a stronger, safer, and more connected Cecil County for everyone."
Hornberger's administration struggled with a controversy over her education budget recommendations. Streight criticized those actions in the primary campaign. Hornberger claimed she found waste in the school budget in cutting the county school district's recommendation.
In conceding the race, Hornberger claimed that Democrats in the county switched party affiliations as a way to drive her from office.
Streight's history with the Hornbergers includes losing a legislative race to Danielle's former husband, Delegate Kevin Hornberger, R-Cecil.
The powerful post of executive is a fairly recent development in the county that borders Delaware.
Previously, Cecil lacked home rule, with significant local legislation going through the Maryland General Assembly.
The executive's post has similar powers to the position in New Castle County. However, unlike New Castle, the Cecil executive, among other things, oversees the health department and makes education funding recommendations in the county budget that goes before Council. Cecil County, unlike Delaware has one countywide school district.
Although Cecil has about a fifth of the population of its neighbor to the east, the county budget - once education and other areas handled by the state in Delaware are calculated- totals a quarter of a billion dollars. That's only a hundred million less than the New Castle County total.
The Cecil County economy has shown strength in recent years, after at one time having one of Maryland's highest jobless rates. One factor was the closing of auto plants in Delaware a decade and a half ago.
Drivers have included the Hollywood Casino, the recently built Great Wolf Lodge, and distribution centers, nearly all in the western part of the county.
The county still has a large commuting population that travels to jobs in the Baltimore area and New Castle County.
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