Meg Daly Heap today was sworn in as Chatham County’s new district attorney, promising to bring “integrity and professionalism” to the office.
“I look forward to getting to work,” Heap told a standing room only audience of judges, court and county personnel and friends in the jury assembly room at the Chatham County Courthouse on Montgomery Street.
The ceremony was moved from a courtroom as originally planned to accommodate the crowd. Her entry drew immediate applause.
“I look forward to serving the citizens of Chatham County,” Heap said.
She took the oath of office from Chatham County Chief Superior Court Judge Michael Karpf.
Before he swore Heap, Karpf administered the oath of office to Greg McConnell, who is returning to the office as Heap’s chief assistant.
McConnell left in 2010, moving to the prosecution team in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit before agreeing to return to help Heap.
Former District Attorney Spencer Lawton Jr., acting as master of ceremonies, said Heap’s election fulfills her campaign pledge of “a need to establish a new level of integrity” to the office.
“She did it in a reasonable, adult and discreet way,” Lawton said, adding that people can “sit back and wait for her to lead us to the promised land of milk and honey.”
As one of her first orders of business, Heap will host an open house from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday in the grand jury room at the courthouse for all law enforcement oficers.
It is part of her platform pledge to improve the relationship between police and her office.