The elected office of clerk and recorder is one of those positions that flies under the radar until something goes wrong — there are problems at the polls, or there is a backlog in recording deeds.
Of the four candidates running for Denver clerk and recorder, we think Tom Downey is best suited to managing the daily grind, coming up with innovative improvements, and taking a leadership role when circumstances call for it. We recommend him to Denver voters.
While the race is non-partisan, the range of endorsements that Downey has racked up is impressive — from GOP Secretary of State Scott Gessler to former Mayors Wellington Webb and Federico Peña, both Democrats.
Downey is a Democrat — he ran the Colorado campaign for presidential candidate Al Gore in 2000 — but brings to the table a demonstrated ability to work across party lines.
That’s an important quality for the clerk and recorder, who often is at the epicenter of politically charged situations surrounding elections.
Downey’s work as president of the Children’s Museum of Denver shows his strengths as a manager. Downey not only increased attendance at the facility, he boosted revenues and led an effort to pay off its debt.
A lawyer by training, Downey also has experience in election law, which would be a benefit if Denver voters were to choose him to succeed Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O’Malley, who is leaving office.
While we think Downey is the best candidate, we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the skills of Debra Johnson, who has been Aurora city clerk for the last decade.
The Aurora position is an appointed one, and doesn’t have a residency requirement. Johnson has lived in Denver for the past nine years.
Johnson has worked with a budget of roughly $1 million and eight employees — substantially smaller than the Denver office, but many of the duties translate. She has managed records, run elections and dealt with politicians. Though she comes up a bit shy in the realms of politics and leadership, Johnson strikes us as someone who could handle the job.
That is less clear when it comes to candidates Jacob Werther, who is a deputy public trustee in the clerk’s office, and Sarah McCarthy, who runs a non-profit organization to encourage local civic participation. Though McCarthy has significant experience in Colorado state government, she lacks the hands-on clerk experience that Johnson has and the bigger-picture management abilities that Downey has demonstrated.
Downey also is a dynamo of ideas about advances for the office, including putting public documents online and in a format compatible with other counties. Downey, who is director of business and licensing for the secretary of state, was hired by Democrat Bernie Buescher and then retained by Gessler, a Republican.
His management skills, technical abilities and ability to work across party lines contribute mightily to our assessment that Downey would serve Denver well as clerk and recorder.
