Garfield County's elected officials pose with Ninth Judicial District Judge John Neiley. Shown are Garfield County Assessor Jim Yellico, Clerk and Recorder Jackie Harmon, Treasurer Carrie Couey, Surveyor Scott Aibner, District 1 Commissioner Tom Jankovsky, Sheriff Lou Vallario, Judge Neiley, District Attorney Jeff Cheney, and Coroner Rob Glassmire.

Garfield County elected officials take oaths of office

Scores attend swearing-in ceremony in Glenwood Springs

PRESS RELEASE
January 12, 2023

Garfield County’s elected officials have taken their oaths of office and are settling into their new terms after being voted in by the people in the Nov. 8, 2022, General Election. Ninth Judicial District Judge John F. Neiley officiated the Jan. 10 ceremony, which drew a standing-room only crowd that included family, friends, co-workers, well-wishers, municipal leaders, and more.

Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky, Sheriff Lou Vallario, Assessor Jim Yellico, Coroner Robert Glassmire, Surveyor Scott Aibner, and Clerk and Recorder Jackie Harmon took their oaths at the Garfield County Administration Building in the commissioners’ meeting room. Incumbent Treasurer and Public Trustee Carrie Couey was sworn in before the end of 2022 in a separate public ceremony at the Garfield County Courthouse on Dec. 30, to meet statutory requirements.

Judge Neiley spoke of the responsibilities of elected office and noted that the Oath Act of 1789 was the first legislation passed by the U.S. Senate and the first law signed by our first President George Washington.

“The oath taken is an ancient ritual that stretches back as far as Roman times. It is a ritual that has a long history in our country as well,” he said. “Article six, clause three of the United States Constitution is referred to as the oath or affirmation clause. It requires that all members of Congress, the state Legislatures, and all members of executive and judicial branches, state or local, pledge by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution. … That first oath to members and civil servants was very simple, it said ‘I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States.’ We are here to honor that tradition this morning.”

“I’m very honored and I do take this oath very seriously, as do my two fellow commissioners, and I try my best to make Garfield County a good place to live with a great quality of life,” said Commissioner Jankovsky after taking his oath.

“I will do my best to run this office well with the highest integrity and support our elections and all our departments and we’ll continue with our forward motion,” added new Clerk and Recorder Harmon after taking her oath.

All elected officials thanked their families, co-workers, supporters, and the citizens of Garfield County and pledged to maintain the county’s high standards of service for all residents.