Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, a Democrat, has solicited applications for the position of state elections director, who oversees the state's polling and campaign finance reporting processes in conjunction with county clerks.
Weeks before last year’s general election, Colorado’s state elections director, Holly Lowder, resigned amid questions surrounding her longtime relationship with John Paulsen, who had received $183,800 election-related contracts from the state. Since Lowder’s resignation, deputy director of elections Wayne Munster has filled the position on an interim basis and is one of eight applicants applying for permanent appointment to the position, which pays $115,000 annually. According to SoS spokesman Rich Coolidge, there is no set timeline for the hiring process to be completed.
Through the Colorado Open Records Act, Face The State has obtained the applications, linked below. They aren’t as interesting or humorous as the crop that vied for appointment alongside Buescher, but the successful candidate will no doubt have their hands busy through the 2010 state and federal midterm elections.
Carol Snyder (PDF of application) is a former Democrat state representative and former Adams County clerk and recorder. Gov. Bill Ritter appointed her to serve as public trustee in Adams County, a position she holds currently. Snyder’s references include Scott Doyle, Republican Larimer County Clerk and Recorder, and Jenny Flanagan, executive director of the liberal elections advocacy group Common Cause.
Michael Scarpello (PDF of application) is the elections director for the city and county of Denver. He previously served as elections manager in Douglas Co., Nebraska. Scarpello’s current boss is Denver County Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O’Malley, who has been criticized for a lack of transparency in her office.
Carolyn Powell (PDF of application) is a Denver attorney for a privately held commercial retail and real estate development company.
Wayne Munster (PDF of application) is deputy director of elections for the Secretary of State, where he has worked since 2001, and serves as elections director on an interim basis. His other work experience includes sales support manager for Neiman Marcus from 1990 to 1996 and ramp supervisor job at Denver International Airport.
Lori Ann Knutson (PDF of application) is a corporate attorney, who also serves on the board of directors for the Denver Dumb Friends League.
Harvie Branscomb (PDF of application) is the CEO of a software development company. He lists former Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, and Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Loveland, as references. He was also a primary backer of moving Colorado to an all paper balloting system.
Judd Choate (PDF of application) is an attorney, who formerly served as a law clerk for Colorado Supreme Court Justice Alex Martinez. He was also a professor at Baker University in Kansas. He also lists Justice John Gerrard of the Nebraska Supreme Court as a reference.
Amy Storm (PDF of application) is the chief deputy clerk and recorder in Mesa County. She has worked in the Mesa County Clerk's office in some capacity since 1999, including stints as the elections division director and an applications technician.