New county officials to be sworn in next week



Hopefully, nature won't unleash it's fury when new officials take oath


The Laredo Morning Times' Odie Arambula had an article this morning which outlined the swearing ceremonies that will be taking place at the start of the new year.  There's a slew of "new" officials that will be sworn in so the ceremonies will have to take place in at least two places. The county elections were way back in April and May so some might have forgotten just who these new elected officials are. Some of the really, really new public servants will be Webb county commissioner Jaime Canales and Judge Monica Zapata Nozton. Odie Arambula takes a few lines to remind those coming or returning to office :

 At this moment of governance misgivings, the oath underlines commitment and responsibility for newcomer Canales and incumbents Judge Danny Valdez and Commissioner Wawi Tijerina. They represent three of the five people who comprise the Webb County Commissioners Court. We trust the two holdover county commissioners, Frank Sciaraffa and Jerry Garza, are getting the message.

We can’t help but remind ourselves that the retiring commissioner, Keko Martinez, reminded Commissioners Court numerous times that “we took an oath to uphold the law.”

The administering person shall read,” I --------- solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of --------- of Webb County” for the elected official to repeat,
“and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the constitution and laws of the United States and the state (of Texas), so help me God.”“Preserve, protect and defend” are more than words in a swearing in ceremony.

It’s part of a tall order, but not tall enough that it cannot be seen or reached by every elected official, from the precinct to the courthouse.

Dear friends, they are about to renew their commitments and pledges to all of us to be worthy of our trust. SADLY, WE HAVE lost pieces of that public puzzle over a period of recent years.