Pam Eller and Ken Lucas officially took their seats on the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District board of directors at their swearing-in on May 24.

Lucas, who was re-elected to his seat, and Eller, who previously served on the board from 2010 until 2018, won the district’s May 2 election.

“I'm just really excited to be back at South Suburban with all of the great people and the community and looking forward to the stuff that's going on,” Eller said to Colorado Community Media after she was sworn in.

Lucas said he was happy to be elected to a four-year term after his last term, which was only three.

“I’m just happy to do it, I enjoy it,” he said. “It’s not a big time-cruncher that keeps me away from the golf course.”

He also said he was disappointed more people don’t tend to vote in South Suburban elections, which he noted is at least partially because they are not coordinated with other elections.

In this year’s election, 1.6% of eligible voters cast ballots — a slightly higher turnout than the last election, which saw just under 1.4% of voters participate, district staff said.

Eller and Lucas will serve alongside Pete Barrett, Susan Pye and a fifth to-be-determined board member who will take the vacant seat of Dave Lawful, who passed away suddenly in May.

Jim Taylor reached his term limit and his fellow board members expressed that he will be missed.

“Jim, thank you,” said Barrett. “Schools are better, city’s better and South Suburban’s better for your dedication and your work. We appreciate it, those of us who have lived here a long time, we see it every day and we thank you from our deepest hearts for everything you've contributed … I've enjoyed sitting next to you for five years and I hope some of that's rubbed off on me.”

At the May 24 board meeting, the four sitting members voted for Pye, Barrett and Lucas to remain in their roles as chair, secretary and treasurer, respectively. They voted for Pam Eller to fill the vacant role of vice chair.