BUCKHANNON – Alan Suder was sworn in as an Upshur County Magistrate Feb. 24.

Suder will start his term as Magistrate March 1. He is taking over after former magistrate Kay Hurst resigned from the position in January, the same day Upshur County Circuit Court Judges Jacob Reger and Kurt Hall announced Mark Davis, who was sworn in as magistrate earlier this month, would be filling the shoes of Mike Coffman, also a former longtime magistrate.

Coffman resigned his former post to accept a position as chief deputy in the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office.

Suder, who is no stranger to public positions, served as a member of the Upshur County Board of Education for three terms prior to announcing he would not run again for the BOE in 2020.

“I am very humbled, and I’ve always wanted to give back to Upshur County, so today’s just one of the great opportunities where I feel that I’m going to be able to do so,” Suder said. “I was born in Upshur County, I went to school in Upshur County, I’ve raised my children here, and I truly love Upshur County. I served 12 years on the Upshur County School Board, and this is just one more way that I feel I can give back to the citizens of Upshur County.”

Suder will work with newly appointed magistrate Mark Davis.

“Whenever Mark Davis came to Upshur County, he actually lived beside me as I was growing up, and I watched Mark go from a corrections officer to a deputy to now magistrate, and I’m really looking forward to working with Mark. We’re going to make the offices very efficient,” Suder said. “I just want to establish an office that is friendly and efficient.”

“I want the community to know I’m working for them, and if I can ever help in any way, I’m always willing to listen,” Suder added.