LOCAL

Commissioners vow to protect civil rights, work to make county better

STAFF REPORT

Emma Pinter doubled down on progressive values in her 2023 inauguration address, promising to support Adams County LGBTQ residents and protect abortion rights.

“We need to make sure that all of our services have this framework of care and community for all who live here,” Pinter said.

“It is important that when you look at the care provided by every aspect of our community, that we are thinking about everyone that lives here,” Pinter, the Commissioner for Adams County’s District 3, said. “You don’t want to be worried about your civil rights when you are seeking medical care.”

Pinter was one the of six county o cials and one 17th District Judge that swore their oaths of o ce Jan. 10 at the Waymire Dome in the county’s Riverdale Regional Park.

Chief District Judge Don Quick, who administered the oaths, said only new Treasurer and Public Trustee Alex Villagran missed the inaugural ceremony because he is traveling. Quick said he administered Villagran’s oath on Christmas Eve.

It was the rst live inauguration the county has hosted since the COVID shutdowns. e 2021 inaugural ceremony was done via Zoom, and the 2023 event was largely an afternoon celebration, with food and a live jazz trio performing before and after the o cial ceremony.

Deputy County Manager Jim Siedlecki encouraged the attendees — mostly county employees and family — to stick around after the o cial ceremony concluded.

“We know you have private parties planned this afternoon but you don’t have to rush out of here,” Siedlecki said. “We have a band, we have a bar and we are looking forward to a couple of hours of fun. So please stick around with us. I know the formal ceremonies have concluded, but we’d love to spend some time with some Adams County people.”

Pathways

And county o cials, especially county Democrats, had plenty to celebrate after sweeping all county categories for the second straight election cycle. e winners who were sworn in Jan. 10 had plenty of gratitude for their supporters. Pinter, who had 90,541 votes to Republican challenger Sean Forest’s 71,129, thanked her family and her supporters.

“It’s a lot to ask your family to join you in public service,” she said. “And it’s even more to ask them to come along and campaign with you county-wide.”

Pinter said one of the most common questions she was asked during her campaign was just what a County Commissioner does. For Pinter, it’s being the builders of pathways.

“We build pathways to success, whether it’s to start a small business, pathways to a job, pathways to services whether it is Head Start or a food access program,” she said. “We also build the literal roads and pathways and bike lanes that connect our beautiful county and work with our federal and state partners to make sure they stay in good working order.”

District 4 Commissioner Steve O’Dorisio, who defeated challenger Joseph Domenico 90,438 votes to 68,621 to win re-election, said he is grateful for his family and his supporters as well as other county o cials and sta that have helped him.

“You look around and see that some people spend their whole life trying to get what they deserve,” he said. “I am committed to working the rest of my life to deserve all that I’ve been given.” is is O’Dorisio’s third and nal term in the o ce. His term ends in 2027.

“I don’t know where we are going to be in four years or what’s going to happen in four years,” he said. “I know there are issues that we run on and issues that run us if we are not careful. ere are issues we choose and issues that choose us. Over the last four years, we have dealt with a global pandemic, growing homelessness and housing problems and in ation. ese are not issues that I thought I would be dealing with over the last four years, so who knows where we will be in the next four years?”

New Sheri Gene Claps defeated then-Sheri Rick Reigenborn in the 2022 Democratic primary before beating former Sheri Mike McIntosh in November’s race 85,860 votes to 76,117.

Claps said he learned a lot during his campaign.

“ ese last two years have been incredible,” Claps said. “I have knocked on countless doors, attended community meetings and events and listened to what matters to you most of all, that is making our community safe for everyone and I am con dent we can lead our sheri ’s department in the right direction.”

Other county o cials swearing their oaths of o ce, included Assessor Ken Musso claimed 90,732 votes to challenger Hieu Truong Nguyen’s 68,850; Clerk and Recorder Josh Zygielbaum who defeated challenger Karen Hoopes 90,262 votes to 69,488. Coroner Monica BroncuciaJordan, who had 91,597 votes to challenger David Shaklee’s 68,372 votes.

Chief Judge Quick also administered the oath of o ce to Judge MaryAnn Vielma. Five other judges —Emily Lieberman, Rayna Gokli McIntire, Patrick Pugh, Kyle Seedorf and Je rey Smith, were in court during the inaugural ceremony and were sworn individually.

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Action Task Force for the city and the state department of Public Health and Environment and was co-chair of that group’s Equity Analysis subcommittee.

“We gave recommendations to the governor for environmental justice actions and for best practices and impacts,” she said.

Millard-Chacon has a bachelors degree in Communication from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Educational Leadership and Administration from Northern Arizona University.

Councilors vote

Councilors voted in three rounds to select their favorites, with Millard-Chacon, Melinda Larson and Ashley Jackson getting the most votes in the rst round. Larson was eliminated in the second round before councilors settled on MillardChacon in the third round.

Other candidates included former City Councilor Jose Guardiola, Michael Storozum, a senior IT engineer for the City of Aurora. e Ward 3 seat is usually a fourterm and Davis was elected in 2021.

Millard-Chacon’s Ward 3 seat will be up for election in November 2023 for a special two-year span to complete Davis’ original term.

“I want to thank all of the applicants that applied for this and for your commitment to Commerce City and hope that you will consider running for the special election that occurs in November of this year, as well as everybody else,” Mayor Benjamin Huseman said. “ ere will be two at-large council seats available, Ward 4 and the mayor’s seat as well will be available, as well as Ward 2. Quite a bit of seats — six of the nine seats will be available for election this year.”

Voters will vote on the Ward 3 seat again in 2025, but it will return to a four-year term after that.

Commerce City Mayor Benjamin Huseman administers the oath of offi ce for newlyappointed Ward 3 Councilor Renee Millard-Chacon Jan. 9 in the City Council Chambers.

COURTESY CITY OF COMMERCE CITY

Chacon in the third round.