Sandoval County and state officials kicked off their terms with a swearing-in ceremony at the county’s administration building Dec. 30, surrounded by family, friends and local dignitaries.
Pledging to uphold the U.S. and New Mexico constitutions, the newly elected and reelected officials formally took their oaths of office, administered by 13th Judicial District Court Judge Allison Martinez.
“We worked hard to get to this point—and by we, I mean, of course, my wife, my brother, family—that’s what it took to do this as well as people in the county,” said Jordan Juarez, the new District 4 County Commissioner. “I have 20,000 people to represent and I’m going to represent to the fullest as well as everyone else in the county. It’s not just this district, it’s the whole county that we have to look out for, and I look forward to getting to work.”
The ceremony saw several county officials take their oaths, including newly elected commissioners Juarez, Jon Herr (District 2) and Joshua Jones (District 5), who was elected following his prior appointment by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Jones made history as the first African American elected to the commission. Additionally, Anne Brady-Romero was reelected as county clerk, and Jennifer Taylor secured another term as county treasurer.
Several state representatives also took the oath of office, including Rep. Alan Martinez, R-Rio Rancho, who was reelected and marked the occasion with his wife, Judge Martinez, who administered the oath. Rep. Kathleen Cates, D-Rio Rancho, and Rep. Joshua Hernandez, R-Rio Rancho were also reelected. The ceremony also welcomed the newest representative, Rep. Catherine Cullen, R-Rio Rancho.
Among the local dignitaries in attendance were Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, county commissioners Kathrine Bruch and Michael Meek, former county commissioner and state senator-elect Jay Block and 13th Judicial District Court Judge James Noel.