Chief Judge Jeffrey Wilson of the 6th Judicial District administered the oath of office to three La Plata County officials on Tuesday, all to offices they previously occupied and to which they were elected or reelected in November.
Commissioners Matt Salka and Marsha Porter-Norton took the oath of office, officially beginning their second terms on the Board of County Commissioners.
District Attorney Sean Murray, the top prosecutor in the 6th Judicial District, was also sworn in. Murray first took the oath in March 2024, after he was named to the office in March by Gov. Jared Polis following Christian Champagne’s resignation.
All three will serve a four-year term.
County Treasurer Moni Grushkin was sworn in on Jan. 2, in accordance with statutory provisions that required her to take the oath early. She was appointed to the position in November 2023 after Allison Aichele resigned; she won an uncontested race for the office in the November general election and will serve a two-year term.
The electeds all offered brief remarks after they took their oaths.
“This office allows somebody with passion for making our county, community, state and, dare I say, nation, truly a better place to live,” Porter-Norton said in brief remarks following the ceremony. “It’s a chance to make a difference.”
Salka echoed Porter-Norton’s sentiments, and once again urged the public to contact the commissioners with any concerns.
“We have an incredible team of public servants that are dedicated to making the community safer, to making the justice system fairer, and to pursuing justice,” Murray said. “A big part of that is being victim-centered, making sure that every victim’s voice is heard and that they’re always treated with respect and dignity.”
At a BOCC business meeting following the ceremony, Porter-Norton was elected board chair, taking over the gavel from Salka, who was elected vice chair.
The board chair is the primary point of contact for the commission and is responsible for reviewing agendas in advance of board meetings and running meetings according to Robert's Rules of Order. Porter-Norton and Salka have each alternated between the chair and vice chair positions since at least 2021.
rschafir@durangoherald.com