Jan. 8, 2013 — Three county officers and a pair of Lassen County Superior Court judges took the oath of office yesterday to begin their new terms.

Lassen County Clerk Julie Bustamante administered the oath of office to Lassen County Superior Court Judge Michele Verderosa in an informal ceremony at the clerk’s office in the historic Lassen County Courthouse yesterday morning.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Verderosa to the bench Oct. 18, 2010 to complete the term of Stephen Bradbury following his retirement. She was appointed in lieu of election to a six-year term in February 2012 because no one filed papers to run against her in the June primary election.

While no one chose to run against Verderosa, a number of candidates sought F. Donald Sokol’s seat on the bench. Sokol did not seek re-election after serving a single six-year term. Local attorney Tony Mallery won the seat in the November election, defeating Lassen County District Attorney Bob Burns.

Verderosa administered the oath of office to Mallery before a group of family and friends at a 4 p.m. ceremony at the Lassen County Hall of Justice.

Verderosa also administered the oath of office to two veteran members of the Lassen County Board of Supervisors — District 1 Supervisor Bob Pyle and District 2 Supervisor Jim Chapman — and to newly elected District 4 Supervisor Aaron Albaugh in a noon ceremony yesterday at the Lassen County Hall of Justice. Albaugh succeeds Brian Dahle who won election to the California state assembly in the November election. Dahle took the oath of office in Sacramento last month.

The newspaper joins the community in welcoming these newly elected county officials and wishes them every success during their terms in office.