Outside supervision of Mesa County elections ordered amid investigations of clerk

Amid a state investigation of the Mesa County clerk’s office, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold appointed a supervisor and advisory committee to oversee elections in the county.

“As Secretary of State, my top priority is to ensure all election security protocols are followed and to safeguard Coloradans’ right to vote and we will continue to conduct the business required of our office to provide oversight, to ensure the integrity of the state’s elections,” Griswold, a Democrat, said in a Tuesday statement announcing the move.

Griswold said she had appointed Mesa County Treasurer Sheila Reiner to “supervise all conduct of the Mesa County elections” and established a three-person advisory committee that includes state Rep. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction; Ouray County Clerk and Recorder Michelle Nauer; and former Secretary of State Bernie Buescher to “advise and assist Reiner in her duties.”

However, the Mesa County Board of County Commissioners voted later on Tuesday to reject Reiner as supervisor, saying Griswold was acting outside her authority. The commissioners instead appointed former Secretary of State Wayne Williams to supervise elections in Mesa County. It remains unclear if Williams or Reiner will ultimately act as supervisor.

Read more: https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/outside-supervision-of-mesa-county-elections-ordered-amid-investigations-of-clerk/