Jeffrey Wilson, Chief Judge for the Sixth Judicial District, made the trip to Pagosa Springs on Tuesday, January 8, to handle the swearing-in ceremonies for newly elected — or re-elected — Archuleta County government officials.
At Judge Wilson’s prompting, the officials, one by one, promised to uphold the US and Colorado Constitutions and to fulfill their duties as required, and then signed a copy of their oath. An appreciative audience of friends and admirers applauded each recitation.
The new and returning crew then posed for a group picture.
(I’m not exactly sure why County Commissioners Ronnie Maez and Steve Wadley are posing in this photo, since they were not being sworn in, and had played no role in the actual ceremony. But then, I don’t understand a lot of things the commissioners do.)
Following the swearing-in process, Board of County Commissioners Chair Steve Wadley asked out-going County Clerk June Madrid to accept a special plaque, thanking her for 30-plus years of service as head of the Clerk & Recorder’s office. Although the audience called out, “Speech! Speech!” Ms. Madrid politely declined to make a public comment.
A week prior, a similar plaque had been presented to departing County Treasurer Betty Diller. I think most everyone agrees that the hard-working Ms. Diller had been a true asset to the County.
That same day, departing County Commissioner Michael Whiting was likewise presented a plaque by Commissioner Wadley, following Mr. Whiting’s eight years on the BOCC.
Commissioners Whiting and Wadley had often cast opposing votes on some important County decisions — such as on the contentious County Jail issue — but it was all in good fun, I suppose.
Commissioner Whiting then posed for a photo with his family:
I’m sure we all wish Mr. Whiting success in his future endeavors. But if those endeavors involve politics, well, we’ll have to talk about it.
Bill Hudson began sharing his opinions in the Pagosa Daily Post in 2004 and can’t seem to break the habit. He claims that, in Pagosa Springs, opinions are like pickup trucks: everybody has one.