Four La Plata County officials took the oath of office on Tuesday morning, including two county commissioners, the county surveyor and the district attorney for the 6th Judicial District.
District Attorney Christian Champagne claimed his office after winning a heated race against fellow Democrat Ben Lammons. Champagne received the nomination in the June 2016 primary with 66 percent of the vote.
Champagne served since 2009 as deputy under outgoing District Attorney Todd Risberg. The jurisdiction encompasses Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan counties.
County commissioners Gwen Lachelt and Julie Westendorff were sworn in for their second terms after defeating challengers in the November general election.
Lachelt, who garnered 51 percent of the vote, defeated Republican Lyle McKnight. Westendorff, with 54 percent, kept the seat from Republican Kayla Story Patterson.
County Surveyor Steve McCormack ran an uncontested race after serving since August 2015 as interim surveyor after his predecessor, Larry Connolly, died.
McCormack held the office in 1986 and 1990, and was appointed to finish an unexpired term in 1996.
The four took the oath of office in County Judge Martha Minot’s courtroom.
jpace@durangoherald.com
