County commission sworn in

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will be led by a new chairman in 2025.

During a special meeting Tuesday, Jared Hoffmaster was voted leader of the seven-member panel.

As part of their annual, first-meeting-of-the-year process, board members nominated and then voted on a peer to serve as chairman. They then repeated the process to secure a vice-chair. That post went to Rusty Baker.

Hoffmaster, 43, is a Pleasant Lake resident whose district comprises Flowerfield Township, a portion of Fabius Township and a portion of Three Rivers. He is starting his fifth year as a county commissioner after previously serving six years as a member of the Three Rivers City Commission.

Baker, meanwhile, is starting his third year as a member of the county board. He is a 48-year-old Mendon Township resident whose jurisdiction is made up of Park, Mendon and Leonidas townships, and a portion of Colon Township.

Prior to the meeting, clerk Gina Everson swore in the seven commissioners: Hoffmaster, Baker, Ken Malone, Rick Shaffer, Luis Rosado, Terry Conlin and Christina Yunker. They will all serve four-year terms.

Commissioners are paid $9,408 annually.