BARTELS: El Paso County elections staff wins “Innovation Award”
Here’s to the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s elections division, which recently was honored by the county with an “Innovation Award.
The El Paso County Board of Commissioners handed out three awards that recognized a new idea or process that resulted in a positive improvement in customer service.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the innovations our elections department implemented in 2015, which saved taxpayers $189,000 and improved the voter experience,” El Paso County Clerk Chuck Broerman said in a news release.
Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams served as the clerk and recorder before taking over the state post in 2015.
“I know first hand the great work done by the El Paso County elections staff,” Williams said. “I am delighted that the county has recognized their continued hard work.”
The elections staff was honored for:
The members of the El Paso County elections division are: Jeff Weston, Angela Leath, Brandi Bantz, Jace Richards, Brian McLellan, Michelle Stroup, Byron Linthicum, Stacey Peacock and Cynthia Fuller.
“We’re incredibly excited to receive this award,” elections manager Liz Olson said. “When we set out to improve our processes, we thought it would be good for the citizens of El Paso County as well as prudent preparations for the 2016 presidential election. We never thought we would receive this kind of recognition.
“In a world where you’re usually only recognized when something goes wrong, it is nice to be awarded for doing something right.”
This is the second award the Elections Department has received in recent years. When Williams was clerk, the department was recognized with the 2012 National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award in recognition of its work during the Waldo Canyon Fire. The fire jumped Queens Canyon on the day of the 2012 primary election, and burned homes close to the center in Colorado Springs where ballots were being countedprings.
Nominations for the Innovation Awards were made by county employees and submitted to a committee for evaluation.
To see more posts from Lynn Bartels, visit her official blog at the Colorado Secretary of State website.
Appeals court reverses Fremont County judge’s sanction on DA’s office over evidence misunderstanding
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 hours ago
Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that a Fremont County judge was wrong to reduce the severity of a criminal charge because she believed the district attorney’s office failed to turn over police reports that, in reality, did not exist....
Republicans swat down Democratic offer to end shutdown as impasse continues into 38th day
Mary Clare Jalonick
mary-clare-jalonick@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly swatted down a Democratic offer to reopen the government and extend expiring health care subsidies for a year, calling it a “nonstarter” as the partisan impasse over the shutdown continued into...
Tensions flare in Adams 14 as school board member films speakers during public comment
Nico Brambila
nico.brambila@denvergazette.com
Updated 2 hours ago
As Nicholas Hernandez approached the podium to speak during public comment, Adams 14 School Board Director Luz “Lucy” Molina-Aguayo pulled out her cellphone and began filming. She did the same when others spoke during an Oct. 21 meeting, including former...
Judicial discipline changes moving at a slow pace
David Migoya
david.migoya@gazette.com
Updated 1 hour ago
Colorado’s judicial system is barely closer to fixing what some have called a broken process of disciplining judges a year after voters approved a new method of dealing with the issue and eight months after revelations the state fosters a...
Trump accuses foreign-owned meat packers of inflating US beef prices and calls for investigation
Darlene Superville
darlene.superville@associatedpress.com
Updated 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday accused foreign-owned meat packers of driving up the price of beef in the U.S. and asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation. The Republican president announced the move on social media days after...
To Your Health: Thriving Denver gala raises vital funds for safety net hospital | NONPROFIT REGISTER
Joanne Davidson
joanne-davidson@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
DENVER HEALTH FOUNDATION Denver News: A Who’s Who of Colorado politicians, past and present, were among the 1,100-plus gathering at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center on Nov. 1 for Thriving Denver: The Denver Health Foundation Gala. Among them: Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper;...
Federal judge blocks Colorado law requiring social media platforms to provide warnings to children
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 6 hours ago
A federal judge blocked Colorado on Thursday from implementing a requirement that social media companies notify users younger than 18 of the effects to their mental and physical health from using the platforms. Lawmakers enacted House Bill 1136 by wide...
Another translocated wolf dies in Colorado, bringing total to 12
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
Wildlife officials on Friday morning announced that another British Columbia wolf, a female with the tag 2506, died in southwest Colorado. Officials said necropsy will be performed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife did not identify...
DIA to cut flights until government shutdown ends
Deborah Grigsby
deborah.smith@denvergazette.com
Updated 9 hours ago
Denver International Airport will reduce its flights by up to 10% while the government shutdown persists. The news comes after the Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it would be reducing air traffic across 40 “high-volume” markets, as air traffic...
Appeals court says claims cannot be based on increased risk of future health problems
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 10 hours ago
Colorado’s second-highest court concluded last week that state law does not recognize a plaintiff’s claim that a defendant’s actions increased their risk of illness in the future. A three-judge Court of Appeals panel acknowledged that courts in some states have...
PREV
PREVIOUS
BARTELS: Secretary of state turns to Colorado legislature after court ruling
The Colorado Secretary of State’s office will ask for legislative help on a campaign finance issue after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals refused its request to “execute us or set us free.” In two separate rulings, the most recent one last week, the court has concluded that Colorado’s regulatory framework for setting up what […]
Bennet slams Iranian missile tests as foes fire at Democrat over nuclear deal
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet on Wednesday condemned Iran for conducting test-fires of ballistic missiles the country claimed could strike Israel and urged the Obama administration and the international community to hold the Islamic Republic responsible for violating a United Nations resolution. Colorado Republicans, in turn, blasted Bennet for his support of the Iranian nuclear deal, calling his […]