HALIFAX, N.C. — Monday marked the changing of the guard at county governments across the state. Two new county commissioners sworn in made history in Halifax County.

"I think it's good to have women on the board -- different opinions," said Commissioner Rachael Hux, who has a business background in Roanoke Rapids.

"I've been in education for a very long time and confronted a lot of challenging issues," Commissioner Carolyn Johnson, who is also deputy superintendent of Halifax County schools. I have been on the board of social services as a chair and served on other boards and commissioners, and I feel that I'm up to the challenge."

Commissioner Rives Manning is looking forward to the different perspective Hux and Johnson will bring to the six-member board.

"I don't think it will be a different direction. I think we might be looking into details a little more thoroughly than we have in the past," he said.

"It's going to be a good ride," Johnson said.

The new board was sworn in with ease, but electing a new chairman is proving to be difficult. The six commissioners voted three times on which one of them should be the chairperson and deadlocked each time. There is another vote set for Dec. 14.