Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper on Tuesday named the city’s new clerk and recorder, just a week before residents will begin receiving mail ballots for a Jan. 30 special election.
Stephanie O’Malley will take over as Hickenlooper’s representative on the Denver Election Commission. She also will oversee records-keeping for the city.
O’Malley is filling a post vacated by former Clerk and Recorder Wayne Vaden, who announced his resignation shortly after Denver’s November election was marked by long lines and widespread voter complaints.
“We are grateful to Wayne Vaden for his service to the city and are excited that Stephanie O’Malley has embraced the challenge of serving as clerk and recorder during this time of transition,” Hickenlooper said in a news release. “We are confident that Stephanie’s extensive knowledge of the law and city processes – combined with her determined and inclusive leadership style – are exactly what Denver needs at this unique point in our history to drive improvements to Denver’s election process.”
A lawyer and the daughter of former Mayor Wellington Webb, O’Malley has been the city’s director of excise and licenses since 2003. She will take over as clerk on Monday, just as residents begin receiving mail ballots for a special election Jan. 30.
“I have a lot of work to do in terms of getting really, really vested and armed with information,” O’Malley said. “I have paid attention to all of the debates and discussion in regard to how the last election was managed so I have some basic understanding as to what the problems are.”
The post she is taking over may only exist for a short time. The only question on this month’s ballot is whether to eliminate the Denver Election Commission and create an elected clerk and recorder. If it passes, a new clerk would be elected in May.
O’Malley did not rule out running for the new post. “It’s a personal decision, one that I certainly would take a look at a little later,” she said. “Right now my focus is just getting up to speed.”
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-954-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
