City officials sworn in

From left, Randal Crowder, Lunell H. Winton, David Lansford, Fred Van Soelen and Robert Sandoval sign their oaths of office. CNJ staff photo: Loretta Kos.

Two new City Commissioners, two incumbents and Mayor David Lansford took the oath of office Monday in a brief ceremony in the North Annex of Clovis-Carver Public Library.

District 1 Commissioner Randall Crowder and District 2 Commissioner Fred Van Soelen made their first official appearances at the ceremony. They will attend their first commission meetings, as commissioners, at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

District 3 Commissioner Robert Sandoval and District 4 Commissioner Lunell Winton were elected for their second terms on the commission and Lansford was elected for his third term.

An audience of about 60 friends, family members and well wishers were on hand for the event.

“I’m not normally a nervous person, but I’m nervous today,” Crowder told the audience.

Van Soelen said it was “humbling” to be going through the ceremony, in preparation for serving on the commission. He thanked his opponents, Len Vohs and Gloria Wicker, for running a clean campaign and said he hopes that Wicker, a long-time community activist, will continue to stay involved in the community.

“Votes are messages from constituents and supporters saying, ‘We trust you to do what’s best for us,’” Sandoval said, adding that he would make sure District 3 gets continued attention during his term.

Winton thanked District 4 voters for returning her for four more years and said she looked forward to serving with both the commission’s incumbents and its new members.

“Clovis is blessed with people willing to give of their time and talents,” Lansford told the audience. “No one can foretell what will happen with us in the next four years, but we can promise that will be fair and honest and we will look for every resource to do the most for the most people.”