Former House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar sworn in as Pueblo County commissioner
Anna Lynn Winfrey
Former Colorado House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar will continue serving as a public official representing Pueblo County just a few months after her eight-year stint at the Colorado legislature came to an end.
Esgar was sworn in Thursday morning outside of the historic Pueblo County courthouse, with dozens of supporters as well as current and former elected officials in attendance.
“I am just proud to be here today, and I'm proud to be here in front of you all,” Esgar said after being sworn in. “I'm proud to serve as a woman, as a mother, as a small business owner, as a member of the LGBTQ community who believes in personal freedom and choices — but most of all, who believes in this community and what we can accomplish together.”
Esgar’s wife and young daughter joined her on the stage as she was sworn in by Gregory Styduhar, the chief judge of the 10th Judicial District and the former Pueblo County attorney.
Esgar thanked her family for supporting her and said she was looking forward to continuing to serve Pueblo County while staying closer to home.
“I have so much pride in Pueblo, so much so that at the state capitol my freshman year nine years ago, I became known as Representative Pueblo,” Esgar recalled. “And it wasn't a title that was put on me as a compliment: It was because I kept asking the hard questions about what (bills) meant for Pueblo.”
On the BOCC, Esgar said she would focus on transparency, innovation, fixing “broken systems,” taking care of county employees and listening to the community, such as with town halls.
Esgar sworn in on first day of Pride month
Thursday also marked the start of Pride month to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Esgar is the first openly gay commissioner to serve Pueblo County and was Pueblo’s first out representative when she was elected to the state House in 2014.
“I'm proud to be the first (openly gay) county commissioner, but I can't wait to see how many more come after,” Esgar said.
Esgar was one of two Democrats vying for the District 2 seat after Commissioner Garrison Ortiz announced his resignation. Local Democrats selected Esgar over former Pueblo County employee Mark Carmel on May 12.
She will serve the rest of Ortiz’s term, which ends in January 2025.
Garrison Ortiz gavels out for last time on Pueblo County Commission: 'Gave you my best'
Other commissioners at conference wished Esgar well
Commissioners Zach Swearingen and Epimenio “Eppie” Griego were not present at the ceremony because they were attending a Colorado Counties Inc. conference in Vail. Swearingen and Griego congratulated Esgar in a jointly written letter.
“We look forward to working with you to help Pueblo County be the best it can be,” Swearingen and Griego wrote. “Congratulations on this next step in your career and all the growth, connections and opportunities that come with it.
“We believe that together we can do what is best for our citizens.”
Ortiz was not present at the ceremony — today is his first day as the chief financial officer of CSU-Pueblo.
The ceremony was emceed by former commissioner and state representative Liane “Buffie” McFadyen, who talked about some of Esgar’s legislative work advocating for workers' rights, protecting equity in health care, supporting cattle ranchers — and introducing the Pueblo chile license plate.
Esgar is “not here for the title,” but to do a job, McFadyen said: “We’re lucky to have her,” she said.
Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com or on Twitter, @annalynnfrey.