City honors commissioner Ashburn for four years of service

SALUDA – The City of Saluda swore into office newly elected commissioners and mayor who will lead the city for the next two and four years.

The Saluda Board of Commissioners met Monday, Dec. 11 and conducted swearing in ceremonies for incumbent mayor Fred Baisden, incumbent commissioner Mark Oxtoby and newly elected commissioner Paul Marion.

Baisden won the November election over challenger Heath Potter, while Oxtoby and Marion won their seats over incumbent Carolyn Ashburn and challenger Teddy Stevens.

City clerk Tola Ellis swore Baisden into office, while Baisden swore Oxtoby into office. Former city clerk Doris Marion swore her son, Paul Marion, into office. Baisden also swore in commissioner Stan Walker, to serve as the city’s mayor pro-tem.

The city also gave Ashburn a proclamation in honor of her service on Monday night.

The proclamation from the city thanked Ashburn for her valuable service to the city from Dec. 9, 2013 until Dec. 11, 2017.

Ashburn thanked the board and Saluda citizens for allowing her to serve.

“I do want to thank the board and the citizens for the four years allowing me to serve,” Ashburn said. “I think we’ve started some good projects and I hope you all can find the money to continue them without raising our taxes.”