At Thursday’s regular meeting, El Paso County Commissioners agreed to hold an evening public meeting on Monday, June 27, at a time and location to be determined. The purpose: To gauge public sentiment about the term extension ballot measure that passed last November but that some voters now say was misleading.

At the board’s June 30 and July 7 meetings, commissioners will consider whether to put a reworded question on the Nov. 1 ballot, regarding whether time-in-office should be extended from a potential eight years, or two terms, to 12 years, or three terms. The public again can attend and voice their views at those meetings.

Commissioner Darryl Glenn offered suggested wording for three different options, and if he fails to get a majority three votes of the five commissioners for this November’s ballot, he said he will try again for the November 2012 ballot.

Voters approved three terms last year, which mean current Commissioners Sallie Clark and Dennis Hisey could run for a third term next November.

Seven elected county officials, five 4th Judicial District Court judges and six El Paso County Court judges, were sworn in Tuesday. Jan. 11, during an oath-of-office ceremony at the Pioneers Museum.

Commissioner Darryl Glenn

Among those taking office are two new commissioners: Darryl Glenn and Peggy Littleton.

Peggy Littleton

At the county commission meeting immediately following the ceremony, Commissioner Dennis Hisey stepped down as chairman of the board. Commissioner Amy Lathen took the gavel and became Commission Chair.

Commissioner Sallie Clark is the new Commission Vice Chair. And Hisey will be the third chair and will run the meetings if Lathen and Clark cannot.

Commissioners also established liaison responsiblities for county departments, offices and agencies, and other commitments.

The list is available at this link.

Five candidates are vying for the District 5 county commission seat that is currently being held by term-limited Jim Bensberg. And a sixth may be on the way “making it an even half dozen,” said Kay Rendleman, chairwoman of the El Paso County Republican Party.

The candidates include Peggy Littleton, state Board of Education member for the 5th Congressional District and a regular at commission meetings; Ed Jones, former state senator and former commissioner from 1994 to 2002; Bill Guevara, a former official from California; Patrick Carter, former precinct leader and Republican chairman for House District 16, and David Williams, UCCS student body president and possibly the youngest-ever candidate to run for the county commission.

By contrast, Darryl Glenn, a city councilor and Republican party favorite, has the field to himself in District 1, which is the seat being vacated by term-limited Wayne Williams.

To recap the other races: Three candidates are vying for the El Paso Clerk and Recorder’s Office, including Wayne Williams, Charles E. Corry, a research scientist and computer expert, and Treasurer Sandra Damron, who is also term-limited.

And three candidates running for the Treasurer’s Office: They include Jim Bensberg and term-limited Bob Balink, as well as Tom Mowle , a Democrat who in February 2008 was appointed as public trustee for El Paso County.