Anchorage's New Assembly Members

Tonight was another bittersweet family milestone. Jared was elected to the Anchorage Assembly.  The election results were certified, and the newly elected members took an oath of office and were sworn into their roles.  The five of us drove up and met Jamin at the Library. The meeting started earlier but the guess was the swearing in would take place around 8:30 p.m. 

It turns out Stanley and Theo, friends, had saved seats up front for us. Most the family stopped short of the very front row which they had for us. I went right on up and Michael joined me before the ceremony. There seemed to be quite a bit of last-minute amendments to be discussed and voted on before the new members were seated. 

This gave me time to think. Josiah would have been right up on the very front row with me. He would have been in the middle of the picture taking and hugs. I ached to hear his laugh and teasing comments. As is, we can only imagine what he would have had to say to Jared on such an auspicious occasion. 

Finally, at 9:24 p.m. the elections results had been certified, outgoing members had shared thoughts, and they were ready to swear in the newly elected members. 

4 in the middle are 1st time assembly members; 2 on end re-elected

Taking the oath

Signing the Oath

First time assembly members

Jared, ?, ?, Yarrow Silvers 📷by Theo

How did I get such front on shots...went right up with the real photographers! LOL Jamin caught me. 

Jamin, Allie, Stacia, Jared, Michael, De'Etta

Good friends who stuck with Jared after the first campaign. It was fun to celebrate with them. 

?, Jared, Stanley, Theo, Jamin 

Theo grabbed a shot of the whole family with two extras. LOL 

There it is - it's getting real. 

📷by Theo

One more family photo. 

Stacia, Allie, Mike, Jared, Me, Jamin 📷by Theo

📷by Theo

It was surreal to watch Jared swear an oath to a political office...to see his name up there...and him on the dais. All those years of civics and history lessons ran through my mind. He determined early he would serve somehow in politics and here he is being sworn in to his first post college elected role. 

The view looking back as we left the room to come home. The meeting still had several hours to go...but we were outta there! Jared is the 3rd from the left on the dais.