Former Clerk and Recorder Supports Wayne Williams
It's Not Just About Administrative Abilities
The Clerk and Recorder is the county's chief administrative officer, responsible for the Recording, Motor Vehicle and Elections department, also serving as Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners. Each of these functions is essential and provides direct services to the public.
- Every land records transaction must be accurately processed and maintained by the Recording Department so that property ownership is protected.
- Accurate, courteous and efficient assistance must be provided by the Motor Vehicle Department for county residents seeking to title or register a vehicle or renew a Colorado driver's license.
- Voter registration records must be accurately maintained to ensure that only eligible voters can cast a ballot. The openness, honesty and integrity of each election must be ensured.
- Legal requirements relating to board meetings or hearings are ensured by the Clerk to the Board. All board actions are accurately recorded and maintained, with all records made accessible to the public.
As the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder for 18 years, I know what's required to be successful in the office. It's not just about administrative abilities - it's also about being a decision-maker and providing strong leadership on key issues.
As an example, when I took office in 1979, the county was under U. S. Justice Department sanctions, requiring the county to receive approval prior to implementation of any election change, no matter how minor. To add to the problem, when state and federal representative district lines were being reapportioned by the Colorado Legislature in 1981, nothing could be finalized until the proposed lines were reviewed and approved by Justice. Because these sanctions were unfair and very costly to the citizens of El Paso County, I decided to lead the fight to end the sanctions. We filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department and won it in 1983 and the sanctions were removed. That's just one example of the decision-making and leadership skills required for this office. Extensive legal knowledge and strong leadership abilities are necessary if the Clerk and Recorder is to tackle proposed or enacted legislation and costly mandates that adversely affect the citizens of El Paso County.
In choosing whom to support for this important office, the choice for me was clear. Wayne Williams is the best choice for El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. Wayne has a proven record when it comes to management and leadership abilities and he is a fiscal conservative. In addition to the administrative skills needed to run this vital office successfully on a day-to-day basis, Wayne has the knowledge, insight, and understanding to lead on key issues affecting the office and the citizens of El Paso County.
Please join me in supporting Wayne Williams for El Paso County Clerk and Recorder.
Ardis Schmitt, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, 1979-1996
