04/12/1957
Raymond L. Telles Thursday received the oath of office as mayor of El Paso from U.S. District Judge R.E. Thomason, before the biggest crowd to jam the council chamber in the City’s political history.
Long before the meeting was called to order by Tom Rogers, as retiring mayor, the flower-banked room was filled and others were milling around in the corridor and on the City hall balcony.
The front seats were reserved for wives and relatives of the elected City officials and were occupied when Telles entered in a burst of applause, along with the slate of alderman, Ralph Seitsinger, Ted Bender, Ernie Craigo and Jack White.
Judge Thomason, who received the oath of office as mayor 30 years ago, reminded the new officials that when he took the oath it included a sworn statement that he had never engaged in a duel.
The outgoing council, with Mayor Pro Tem Hal Dean absent due to illness, approved meeting, canvassed the election, and bowed out after Rogers congratulated his successor.
Also sworn in to new terms Thursday were Tax Assessor Joseph B. Graves, Treasurer Wiley Edwards, and Corporation Court Judges Charles Lanier and
Glenn Woodard.
On the new council, White will be in charge of public safety; Craigo, parks and recreation; Seitsinger, airport and finance; and Bender, Streets and sanitation.
ASKS HELP OF PEOPLE
Telles told the crowd “with pride and extreme humility we assume these grave responsibilities. We cannot do the job alone and I ask all the people of El Paso to help us meet the problems before us. The people of El Paso have spoken and we are grateful for the vote of confidence given us.
“We hold no malice toward any individual or group. With the help of God and the co-operation and help of the people, we will have a successful administration. The door of the mayor’s office will always remain open and I invite you to bring your problems and suggestions to us.”
The Rev. C. Raymond Gray delivered an invocation, after which the meeting was recessed for a reception before the new council got down to the business of the day’s agenda.
Mayor Telles said he and the aldermen have been kept too busy campaigning to discuss any changes in personnel. He said there is a possibility of an additional City attorney being needed but no decision has been made.
The council meeting time will be changed from its present 2 p.m., Telles said, but no new time has been agreed upon. No mayor pro tem appointment has been discussed, he added.
First official action taken after the recess was to approve on first reading a pending ordinance creating the job of assistant airport manager and making other job changes at the airport.
Most of the first day’s work was routine. Three civil service appointments were approved, including Maxine Harper as Planner 1. Other appointments went to Selma Ellen Turner, clerk typist in the Planning Department, and Norman Haddad, junior property measurement man.
The flowers were distributed, after Thursday’s swearing-in meeting, to local hospitals.
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