GOLDEN — Jefferson County said goodbye to four of its elected officials Wednesday at a reception for those who will leave office next week.
County Assessor Jim Everson, Sheriff Ted Mink, Clerk and Recorder Pam Anderson and Commissioner Faye Griffin all stood at tables and caught up with colleagues before heading into a ceremony honoring the four of them, who have more than 40 years experience in elected office.
Griffin will remain with the county, The new elected officials will be sworn in at the commissioners’ meeting Jan. 13.
“It’s bittersweet. It’s been such a great honor,” Anderson said. “I’ve been in the front row of history.
Anderson reflected on the two presidential elections and the marriage equality issue she oversaw during her tenure in Jeffco. Anderson previously served as Wheat Ridge’s clerk and recorder and said she plans to take some time off and spend it with her family before deciding on a new path.
Mink — as the deputy director of statewide investigations — said he is sad to leave but looked forward to a new challenge with CBI and reuniting with Ron Sloan, with whom he served at the Arvada Police Department. Jeff Shrader will succeed Mink as Jeffco Sheriff.
“It’s sad to be leaving, especially with things on the horizon that I started. But it’s a great organization,” Mink said.
Everson, who served 10 years as the county assessor, joked that he already changed his LinkedIn page to read “attorney at law,” but he also plans to take some time off after being with the county since the mid 1980s. .
Commissioner Casey Tighe, the lone elected Democrat in the county, praised the outgoing officials, saying he has always been treated with respect by everyone. He said the county will miss the experience of these four, especially Griffin, whom he called a mentor.
.
Both Tighe and Commissioner Don Rosier — who was elected to a second four-year term in November — led the farewell celebration.
Tighe added that having Griffin just three floors away at the Jefferson County Government Center. And there’s one other good thing, Tighe said: “Now I can talk to her without worrying about open meetings laws.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com
