Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin presided over a swearing-in ceremony for municipal officeholders and trustees, thanking election workers and inviting newly sworn officials to take headshots and family photos after the event. The ceremony, hosted by the Doña Ana County Clerk’s Office in Las Cruces, recognized local officials from several municipalities and members of regional water authorities.

"It is with gratitude and respect that we recognize this commitment to service and proceed with the ceremony," Lopez Askin said as she opened remarks on the responsibilities of holding office. She framed the event as more than a ritual, urging new officeholders to "listen, to act fairly, and to place the needs of the community above your own. Your oath is a promise to uphold the law, to serve with honesty, and to remember that the power of government ultimately comes from the people." The clerk also thanked the county’s election workers for providing "great customer service" and said the county could not run elections without their work.

The program included a formal presentation of the colors by the Doña Ana County Detention Center color guard and the Pledge of Allegiance led by a member of the audience (identified in the transcript as Michelle). Chief Deputy County Clerk Caroline Zamora welcomed attendees, provided logistical details about refreshments and professional headshots available after the ceremony, and asked families to be present for photos.

A series of local officials repeated the oath of office to "support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution and laws of the State of New Mexico" and to faithfully discharge their duties. Those named in the ceremony included Dennis (transcript reference: Dennis Torres) for the village of Hatch; John P. Muñoz for the City of Las Cruces council; Sanjuana Olvera and Robert D. Martinez as trustees for the village of Hatch; Henry de Matteo; Lizette Salinas identified as a municipal judge; an individual recorded in the transcript as James Prentice (recorded variations in the audio transcript) as municipal judge for Las Cruces; Juan L. Perez Sr. and Muriel E. Bowles for the Lower Rio Grande Public Water Works Authority; Perla Architis; Viviana Mahes Cadena for the town of Mesilla; Bertha Sam Salmon described in the transcript as a District 3 city councilor; and Raul de Barcelo Thais Jr. described as a District 6 city councilor for Sunland Park. (Names and office text are reported as stated in the ceremony transcript.)

Organizers encouraged attendees, particularly representatives from smaller municipalities, to take advantage of offered headshots and the county’s communications team for publicity photos. Refreshments and a festive backdrop for family photos were available in the hallway, the clerk’s office said.

The ceremony concluded with congratulations from the clerk’s office and reminders about upcoming elections; no formal votes or policy actions were recorded during the event.