In a short ceremony ahead of Tuesday’s Ogden City Council work session, Flor Lopez was sworn in. While the other three council members elected in 2025 were sworn in last week, Lopez was unavailable due to a trip out of town. Outgoing Council member Angela Choberka served in her capacity for one additional week as a result.

After being administered the oath of office, Lopez said that it was an honor to stand before the audience as a member of the Ogden City Council.

“Ogden City is a place for hard-working people and I’m committed to representing all of the people here in Ogden,” she said. “Our city faces many challenges, but also holds many opportunities, and I’m committed to making careful, responsible decisions on behalf of the community.”

She added that public service is not about titles or power.

“It’s about services,” she said. “It’s about showing up and doing the right thing, and I’m committing to do that.”

Other City Council members took time to welcome Lopez to the council with their own statements.

This included Council member Ken Richey, who was sworn in for his second term last week.

“I know she’s hard working, she’s dedicated,” he said. ‘When Council member Choberka told me, ‘I’m hoping that Flor will run when I’m done with this,’ I’m like, ‘That’s a good choice. I’m excited for that.”

Council member Alicia Washington said this was a historic moment for Ogden.

“To have two women of color serving at the same time on Ogden City Council — a Latina woman and a black woman — what an amazing way to continue the representation of all of the Ogden we live in, work in and play in,” she said.

Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski said that he looks forward to working with Lopez, even if there may be disagreements at times.

“There’s a lot that we do here,” he said. “There’s way more that we agree on than most people in politics would lead us to believe. I know that we’ll have disagreements in the future, and I’m totally OK with that. I also know that we’re going to have agreements and I really look forward to that. I look forward to putting those agreements into results and impacts that help people.”

Following the swearing-in ceremony Tuesday, Lopez told the Standard-Examiner that the real work begins now.

“I know the hard work is coming,” she said. “I’m ready for that. I know that trust needs to be earned, so I’m very committed to work for that.”