Mahaska County officials take oaths of office

Dec. 15—OSKALOOSA — Elected officials from Mahaska County took their oaths of office Thursday morning at the Mahaska County Courthouse.

"It's one of the privileges of my position that I get to come in and do the swearing in of the newly elected officials," said Judge Rose Anne Mefford, who administered the oaths of office. "The voters have put their trust in good people. Mahaska County has always been fortunate to have good leaders step forward to take these roles."

Mefford administered oaths of office for several re-elected officials, including county attorney Andrew Ritland, county treasurer Connie Van Polen and county supervisors Steve Wanders and Chuck Webb, all Republicans. She also swore in Republican Jody Van Patten as Mahaska County recorder. This will be a new role for Van Patten, who previously held the office of Mahaska County auditor.

"I served the Mahaska County Auditor's Office for 27 years, and I'm excited about the change of becoming the Mahaska County recorder and taking on new challenges and entering a new chapter of my life," Van Patten said. "Right now I'm just getting my feet wet and learning what the office is all about. As far as the goals, those will come hopefully in a few short months as I learn the whole process."

Republican Teri Cirbo-Rogers will succeed Van Patten as the new Mahaska County auditor.