The Denver Election Commission’s new director was introduced to City Council members Tuesday, just as some of those same council members stoked plans to overhaul the agency in light of thousands of missing personal voter records.
Councilwoman Marcia Johnson said during a mayor-council meeting that she was ready to form a study group to examine what a new election commission would look like.
“I have a list of people that I would like to have on a committee,” Johnson said. She said that a proposal for a new structure could come as soon as August so that voters could approve it on the November ballot.
“I think we are going to have to ramp up maybe a three-day strong session of people so that we will have time” to inform the public, she said.
Council President Rosemary Rodriguez – who last year floated a bill to get rid of the election-commissioner system – introduced herself to new director John Gaydeski by telling him that public confidence is very low.
“It has almost been a Keystone Kops series of events,” she said, recounting an embattled 18 months for the commission. “It pains me that that is the state of affairs today.”
The Election Commission has endured a barrage of criticism from other city officials since early last year. City Council members chided the commission for a $400,000 budget overrun last year. That same year, incomplete voter guides were sent out. In 2004, absentee ballots went out late.
In light of the problems, city officials began negotiating the resignation of former director Karon Hatchett, who stepped down in January. Gaydeski took over the position about three weeks ago.
“I am pleased to be here, believe it or not,” he told council members Tuesday. He said he would keep his organization focused even “at a time like we are going through right now.”
But after the loss of personal information of about 150,000 voters several council members have grown impatient.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-820-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
