On Tuesday, Aug. 17, during a special meeting, the Board of Mesa County Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt a Resolution to designate former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams as Mesa County’s Designated Election Official for the November 2, 2021, Mesa County Coordinated Election.
To view the discussion that took place at the special meeting, please click here.
As the Designated Election Official, Williams has full and exclusive authority to direct election staff and make all employment decisions related to elections personnel, and to contract and make all other necessary decisions, except that should any contracts with, procurement from, or payment to Runbeck Election Services beyond that previously approved must be approved by Peter Baier, Mesa County Administrator, or his designee, rather than Williams.
Mesa County is scheduled to hold a Coordinated Election on November 2, 2021. To properly hold the Coordinated Election, a Designated Election Official must be in place to supervise and manage Mesa County staff to perform all requirements and meet all deadlines before the date of the election.
On August 17, 2021, the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office issued a statement that effectively eliminates Tina Peters’ ability to supervise Mesa County Elections.
While Mesa County recognizes the Colorado Secretary of State may have the authority to remove a Designated Election Official for cause, neither the Colorado Constitution nor Colorado Revised Statutes vests the Colorado Secretary of State with authority to appoint a Designated Election Official for Mesa County.
