Mathews County’s newly elected officials who take office Jan. 1, 2012 were recognized during Tuesday night’s board of supervisors meeting by electoral board chair Josie Thorpe, second from left. The officials, from left, are Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Bowen, Sheriff Mark Barrick, Commissioner of the Revenue Les Hall, Treasurer Wendy Stewart, school board members Lanell Jarvis and (in front) Jen Little and supervisors Charles Ingram, Edwina Casey and Janine Burns. Not pictured are school board member John Persinger and Tidewater Soil and Water Conservation Board members Ronnie Lewis and Robert Respess. Photo by Sherry Hamilton

The December meeting of the Mathews Board of Supervisors had a ceremonial feel, as the county recognized both incoming and outgoing officials.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, outgoing Commonwealth’s Attorney Jack Gill was recognized by the Mathews Department of Social Services for his support of the agency and his advocacy for children over the past 20 years.

In a resolution, Social Services director JoAnn Wilson-Harfst praised Gill for authoring the interagency protocol for investigating child abuse and neglect cases, for securing grant funds for training child welfare personnel in forensic interviewing for child-related cases, and for helping to establish a Children’s Advocacy Center in Mathews.

Wilson-Harfst said that Gill had a passion for protecting children and had worked successfully to prosecute offenders.

"He listened, he supported, and he cared," she said.

Reading from the resolution, Wilson-Harfst said, "Mr. Gill has greatly improved efforts to establish a mutual response and investigation of those cases of domestic violence that may have placed children in threat of harm, and (he) will always be remembered as a steadfast advocate for the safety and well-being of the children of Mathews County."

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