The Oath of Office – Private or Public? Where's the Transparency?

Governor Mifflin residents deserve answers about when, where, and by whom the oath of office was administered. Private oaths are a dangerous precedent.

Governor Mifflin residents are being asked to accept a story that the oath of office was administered privately , yet supposedly in compliance with all requirements. But this explanation raises far more questions than it answers. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW The community has not been provided with: When the oath was taken Where it was administered Who administered it Whether witnesses were present Whether documentation exists These are not unreasonable questions. These are the baseline requirements of public trust. WHY THIS MATTERS The oath of office is not a formality. It is a public commitment to serve the public . Administering it in private — without transparency about the circumstances — undermines the very purpose of the oath. If officials can take their oaths in the shadows, what else can happen outside the public's view? THE PRECEDENT BEING SET When public servants normalize private oaths: Accountability becomes optional Transparency becomes negotiable Public ceremonies become performative The community's role becomes decorative This isn't about ceremony for ceremony's sake. It's about the principle that public power should be exercised in public view. WHAT RESIDENTS DESERVE Governor Mifflin taxpayers fund these positions. They elect these officials. They deserve answers: Was the oath properly documented? Who can verify it was administered correctly? Why wasn't this done at a public meeting? Will future oaths be administered publicly? Until these questions are answered, the community is left to wonder whether governance in this district happens for the public — or despite them . THE BOTTOM LINE A private oath is not inherently illegal. But transparency is not optional in public service . If officials want the public's trust, they need to earn it — starting with the most basic acts of accountability. Show us the oath. Show us the process. Show us you have nothing to hide.