ST. JOSEPH — Members of the new Berrien County Board of Commissioners were sworn in Thursday.

New to the board in 2011 will be Zach Perkins of Niles in District 13, Mac Elliott of Buchanan in District 11 and Catherine Thieneman of St. Joseph in District 5. All of the other incumbents will serve another term.

Perkins defeated incumbent John Klimek in the November election. Elliott and Thieneman take over for long-time commissioners Don Ryman and Gloria Gillespie, who both decided to not run for re-election.

The commissioners took a few minutes to honor Ryman and Gillespie at the end of Thursday’s meeting.

Commissioner Robert Wooley had kind words for Ryman.

“When I think of Buchanan, I think of you,” Wooley said. “You are always looking out for your district.”

Chairman Dave Pagel honored both Ryman and Gillespie.

“The wisdom and knowledge you have if I could bottle it up, it would be a true treasure,” he said.