Colorado’s statewide elected officials will be sworn in next Tuesday at the state Capitol, marking the transition of office for governor, attorney general and treasurer.
For a fourth officeholder, the ceremony will be a rerun.
Incoming Secretary of State Mike Coffman has decided to pre-empt the traditional 11 a.m. swearing-in with one of his own, at 9 a.m.
A narrow winner in the Nov. 7 election, he announced this week that he would hold his own swearing-in ceremony at his new office.
He said he prefers an intimate ceremony, with his mother holding the Bible, one that gives him a chance to make remarks before family, friends and staff. Nonetheless, it is a discourtesy to the other office holders and we urge him instead to find time for his individual event later in the day.
Coffman certainly knows the ropes; it’s his third swearing in after two terms as state treasurer. He has asked Supreme Court Justice Allison Eid to preside and to give the oath of office.
At 11 a.m., Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey is to administer the oath to Gov.-elect Bill Ritter, Attorney General John Suthers and Treasurer-elect Cary Kennedy. Coffman has been asked to attend that ceremony, too, and he’ll take the oath of office a second time, with his wife holding the Bible.
We trust by then the secretary of state will know the oath by heart.
