Elected officials need to be sworn in

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — Local and state winners in November’s elections will take office Jan. 1. Before they do that, they have to do one final thing — get sworn in.

For this reason, McKinley County has issued an opportunity to all officials elected in November to get sworn in at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, when the county will provide a judge and possibly some finger food. The ceremonies are being held in the big courtroom at the McKinley County Courthouse.

County spokesman Doug Decker said elected officials are not required to get sworn in at that time. They can make arrangements with a judge or anyone else allowed to swear-in winners on their own, but it has to be done before they take office.

Doing the honors will be District Court Judge Grant Foutz, but since he will also begin serving a new term on Jan. 1, someone else will have to swear him in, Decker said.

Most of those in the past who have taken the county up on their offer on the official swearing-in day have been city and county winners, but winners for the state legislature can also avail themselves of the opportunity, Decker said.

In the past, however, the state candidates have usually made other arrangements or have gone to Santa Fe for their swearing-in services.

Once the winners are sworn in, they will then have to file the appropriate papers with the proper clerk — county or state — to make it official.

Decker said those winners who ran in more than one county — such as the district judges — will have to file papers in every county that is included in their district.