Though it may not get a lot of notice outside of election season, Denver’s clerk and recorder position is an important job.
This official is responsible not only for ensuring that elections go off without a hitch, but also recording deeds and holding public auctions.
It’s important that when Denver voters choose a candidate to fill this position in the June 7 election, they pick someone steeped in practical knowledge who won’t be flustered by politics.
We recommend Debra Johnson for the job.
Johnson, who lives in Denver, has been Aurora’s clerk for a decade. Though she runs a smaller operation, she is very familiar with running elections, the functions of the clerk’s office, and the spotlight that sometimes comes along with the job.
When we spoke to her about her candidacy, Johnson told us she deals with 11 political officials almost on a daily basis, and she finds herself on municipal television frequently.
Being comfortable in the public eye may not mean much when things are working routinely, but if an election controversy arises, the clerk and recorder needs to be comfortable stepping up to a microphone and explaining the matter.
In the May election, we had recommended candidate Tom Downey for the position. Unfortunately, he fell just short of making the runoff.
However, as we said then, Johnson brings substantial skills to the table and we are comfortable in endorsing her for the run-off election.
Sarah McCarthy, the other candidate in the run-off, is a fairly well-known politico in town, but does not have the nuts-and-bolts knowledge of how to run a clerk’s office.
It would be to Denver’s advantage if voters were to choose someone who already has gone through the job’s learning curve.
When we asked Johnson about things she would change about the clerk’s office, she was specific and systematic.
First, she complimented outgoing clerk and recorder Stephanie O’Malley, who she said has done an admirable job rebounding from the debacle of 2006, when the city had big election problems.
Then, Johnson went on to say she would improve the performance of the public trustee position, saying that notices have not been filed in a timely fashion and there were typographical errors in important documents.
That sort of observation comes from someone who knows the job and is noticing detail.
Johnson also is paying attention to the broader issues. When asked about all-mail ballots, she said she thinks jurisdictions should have the option, but shouldn’t be forced into it.
Same day voting? Johnson said with current systems, it would be a “logistical nightmare” to make sure the person is eligible to vote, an assessment we think makes a lot of sense.
As Denver voters receive their ballots in the mail, we hope they will think carefully about the importance of the clerk and recorder job and go with the experience of Johnson.
