It was a changing of the guard Tuesday for the Orange County Commission, swearing in three commissioners — two of whom are new to the job.

New Commissioners Betsy VanderLey and Emily Bonilla, who represent Districts 1 and 5, respectively, took an oath of office before hundreds at the Orange County Convention Center.

“For the next four years, my staff and I will work tirelessly for the residents of not only the district, but for all of Orange County,” Bonilla said. “I could no longer wait for someone to take a stand for our community. I will be a listener and advocate for our community.”

A third commissioner, Pete Clarke, was also sworn in, returning to the Commission Board to represent District 3.

“Our hard work paid off, and we have a lot of hard work left to do,” Clarke said. “There are certain things you can do that really lift up a community, and it’s how you treat and respond to people who need a hand.”

“[It’s] really lovely to have everybody here. It’s just a great day of celebration,” VanderLey said. “It’s really important to me that we protect our community and make it a place for our families, my grandchildren, to be able to come back and raise their families here as well.”

VanderLey — who is a wife, mother and grandmother of two — works as a business consultant for engineers and land planners. She thinks her experience makes her “uniquely qualified” to tackle District 1’s growth — and challenges.

The district encompasses a big piece of Central Florida's tourism corridor. In addition to the restaurant- and bar-filled International Drive, theme parks Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World sit within its borders.

“It really is the cash cow of the entire state of Florida. But we can do more. There’s a great job opportunity there,” VanderLey said, speaking about diversifying the district’s jobs and developing smartly.

Yet, VanderLey acknowledged the challenge she also faces in balancing the interests of attractions and businesses with residents who live in her district.

“They’re dealing with a lot of growth, right in their backyard, which on the one hand creates jobs and opportunity for people, but on the other hand, it creates a lot of pressure on their way of life, too,” she said. “You have to think about the practical things, how people are going to live in these spaces.”

VanderLey and Bonilla’s appointments tip the balance for the Orange County Board to now majority female. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said that fact illustrates the “open-mindedness” of the community.

“I think it’s significant from the standpoint that I’m pleased to see that women do not feel that there’s any reason that they can’t run and succeed,” she said. “And this is obviously a demonstration that our community supports the right individual, regardless of their gender.”