Richard sworn in by his dad

Emotions bubbled up a few times during incoming Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard’s swearing-in ceremony.

Richard’s father, retired Judge Richard Richard, presided over the event, causing a first wave of choking-up that was quickly followed by another round of tears when Mark Richard thanked his wife, Wendy, for her support.

“Dad, thank you so much for the honor of swearing me in today. I can’t tell you how much it means to me,” Richard said.

Later he said of his own campaign: “I think probably the most rewarding experience came in recognizing how much my wife cared for me.”

Dozens of elected officials, county employees and Richard campaign backers attended the ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the Spokane County Courthouse, where they feasted on American flag cakes and punch.

“By upholding our Constitution and upholding the laws of God, we can only do great things,” Richard told those gathered at the ceremony.

Richard, formerly the government affairs director for the Spokane Home Builders Association, won’t take office until Saturday. But on Tuesday afternoon he was already chatting with department heads and working to get up to speed on county business.

He’s replacing District 2 County Commissioner Kate McCaslin, who will retire from public office at the end of this week.

Richard is the second of two new commissioners sworn in after the November election.

Commissioner Todd Mielke was sworn in to replace former Commissioner John Roskelley, who resigned from his District 1 post to accept an appointment by Gov. Gary Locke to the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board.

“We’ve got a new beginning starting New Year’s Eve at one minute after midnight – the whole complexion of the county changes,” said Phil Harris, the one incumbent commissioner.