Who swears them in reveals who they are

Mayor Mark Mallory hugs his brother, Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge William L. Mallory Jr. (in robes), after taking the oath of office today. Councilmen Jeff Berding, Chris Monzel and Chris Bortz applaud in the background. (Photo by Michael E. Keating/The Cincinnati Enquirer)

Elected officials put a lot of thought into who they select to stand with them and read the oath of office -- and who they pick often says a lot about who they are. A wrapup of today's oath-takers and their oath-givers:

• Democratic Mayor Mark Mallory: Brother William L. Mallory Jr., a newly re-elected municipal court judge. "My family is the most important thing that I have. As you know, public service runs in my family. I guess you could call it the family business," the mayor said. "It's a special time and I wanted to make sure special people were involved."
  
  The judge, who appeared in judicial robes, gave is brother a hug and said, "This will be the last time I get to beat up on you. ... My little brother, I am so proud of you.
  
  "By the way, I am the best-dressed Mallory," the judge said.
  
  
• Democrat Jeff Berding: Former Mayor and U.S. Rep. David S. Mann. "His compassion, integrity and intellect sets me on a course of how I want to serve this city," Berding said in a speech.
  
  
• Charterite Chris Bortz: Uncle and former Mayor Arn Bortz.
  
  
• Democrat Laketa Cole: Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Cheryl Grant, who administered the longest oath of the day. "Over the past few years I got to know Judge Grant and she holds the type of qualities in a judge that will be fair and bring justice," Cole said.
  
  
• Democrat John Cranley: His mother, Susan Cranley. Former Mayor Thomas A. Luken, a political mentor, explained the choice as he introduced Cranley. "On Election Night, John wondered, 'Who could swear me in?' I said, 'Who got you here? Who got you the most votes?" So Cranley picked his mom, who was the top vote-getter as a newly elected member of the Cincinnati Board of Education. "Thank you mom, " the younger Cranley said afterward, "and Dad, thank you for making this bipartisan."
  
  
• Democrat David C. Crowley: Civil rights lawyer Scott Knox, known for his gay rights advocacy. "Scott is a true leader in defending and promoting the rights of all Americans but especially gays and lesbians," Crowley said in an e-mail. "He was a leader in the fight for the repeal of Article XII. My selection of Scott is meant to send a message on the importance of diversity and inclusion throughout the Cincinnati."
  
  
• Republican Leslie Ghiz: U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt.
  
  
• Republican Chris Monzel: Mother Jeanine Monzel. She studied to become a notary public two years ago, just for the occasion. "Why my mom? Throughout my whole life she has been a role model to me of public service, courage and perserverance." A breast cancer survivor, Monzel said she "never missed a beat" as a grandmother and campaign volunteer, even while undergoing chemotherapy.
  
  
• Charterite Jim Tarbell: Planning Commission member Donald J. Mooney Jr., who said he remembers Tarbell before he was a councilman -- as just a small-time concert promoter who brought the Grateful Dead to the Hyde Park Teen Center.
  
  
• Democrat Cecil Thomas: Wife Pam Thomas. Former U.S. District Judge Jack Sherman was supposed to do it, but demurred at the last moment. "At 4 o'clock this morning I woke up and I asked myself, 'Do I have the authority?'" said Sherman, who is retired and no longer practices law. Pam Thomas, Sherman's former bailiff, did the honors instead.