Written by Chris Dyches - email,Tom Roussey - bio l email & Dedrick Russell - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - In a political shocker, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts was re-elected Monday night as chairman of the commission.

Going into the night sources were telling us the newly elected commission's four Republicans were going to join forces with Democrat Harold Cogdell to elect him chairman and Republican Jim Pendergraph vice-chairman.

Cogdell did vote to help Pendergraph become vice-chairman, but announced he would support Roberts instead of himself as chairman.

WBTV is proud to be a co-sponsor of First Night Charlotte again this year.  First Night Charlotte is an alcohol-free, family friendly New Year's Eve celebration in Center City Charlotte.

This year, instead of buttons for admission, you can buy a First Night wristband.  First Night wristbands will be on sale, December 6 - December 31. 

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Chipp Bailey was sworn in as the new Sheriff of Mecklenburg County Monday morning.

Bailey received the oath of office as Mecklenburg County's twenty-fourth Sheriff of record in a ceremony at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.

In addition to the swearing-in of the Sheriff, approximately 300 deputy sheriffs also took the oath of office.

"I – and my staff - take this oath very seriously," said Bailey, "to support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of North Carolina.  In November, the people of this county placed their trust in me to protect and serve them; I will do this to the best of my ability." 

In the coming weeks, nearly 1,000 detention officers and civilian support employees will take the oath to faithfully follow the rules and regulations of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.