Rio Rancho holds swearing in ceremony for councilors, judge

RIO RANCHO — Two members of the Rio Rancho Governing Body and the city’s longtime municipal judge were sworn in to new four-year terms on Thursday following the local election earlier this month.

Councilors Bob Tyler (District 3), Karissa Culbreath (District 5) and Municipal Judge G. Robert Cook took their oaths of office during a ceremony before the governing body’s regular meeting. District 2 Councilor Jeremy Lenentine was out of town and will be sworn in at the City Clerk’s Office on Monday, according to Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull.

The ceremony came following the March 3 election but ahead of a runoff contest for mayor between District 4 Councilor Paul Wymer and Alexandria Piland, ward chair for the Democratic Party of Sandoval County.

The ceremony included the councilors’ and judge’s family and friends, who mostly sat in the council chambers gallery.

Hull invited Cook and each councilor to say a few words following their swearing in.

Tyler, first elected the council in March 2018, thanked his family, including his 19-year-old daughter, who got to vote for the first time during the municipal election. He credited the community with his success, stating, “without everyone, we can’t make this city a great place to live.”

Culbreath, appointed in December 2020 and elected in March 2022, said being a city councilor sometimes means her family “gets a little bit less of me,” but she used her remarks to thank them for “giving me permission” to run for a second term.

“This time I ran with my eyes wide open, knowing what was ahead of me, knowing the opportunities in front of us but also knowing the challenges,” said Culbreath after being sworn in by New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge Shammara H. Henderson.

Cook, who was sworn in for his fifth term by New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge J. Miles Hanisee, said he didn’t have a lot to say, but he is grateful to the people of Rio Rancho, saying they have been supportive of him and the city is a great place to live.

A brief reception in the city hall lobby followed the ceremony.