Colorado County Clerks honor Kirkmeyer

Former Weld Commissioner dismisses election deniers

BY LYNN BARTELS SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

DURANGO - Colorado’s county clerks honored Brighton Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer for her e orts in helping them update voting policies and priorities, including reimbursements for the cost of running elections.

Kirkmeyer was one of four state lawmakers singled out by the Colorado County Clerks Association at its summer conference in Durango that concluded on June 29.

“Voting is the single most signicant way Americans exercise their political power,” she said.

“ ank you to the county clerks of Colorado. You ensure the opportunity to fully participate in the democratic process and freely vote for the candidates and issues that represent my values, my beliefs. You are at the heart of democracy.”

Kirkmeyer, a member of the powerful Joint Budget Committee, was instrumental in proposing legislation that increased the amount the Secretary of State’s o ce reimburses counties for running elections with statewide measures on the ballot. Currently, counties receive between 80 and 90 cents for each active registered voter. Beginning July 2024, the state will pay 45 percent of the cost of any election with state-certi ed ballot content.

Clerks were thrilled - and relieved - with the increase.

“ e additional reimbursement means a great deal to Lincoln County taxpayers who have spent numerous years paying for ballot `real estate’ taken up by state candidates, issues and questions,” said Lincoln e other lawmakers recognized at the event were Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Sen. Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa. Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, will receive his award at a later date.

County Clerk Corinne Lengel.

“Sen. Kirkmeyer heard our cry and worked diligently to ensure the state pays its fair share. We appreciate all she did for us and look forward to working with her on future election bills that will help small counties like ours,” she said.

Kirmeyer, a fourth-generation Colorado who has lived in Weld County for 35 years, last year ran for the newly created Congressional District 8. She lost by less than 1 percentage point to Democrat Yadira Caraveo of ornton.

“ ese lawmakers are valuable partners,” said Fremont County Clerk Justin Grantham, president of the Colorado County Clerks Association. “ ey help make democracy work.”

Kirkmeyer, a former Weld County commissioner, stressed that clerks are partners with the Secretary of State. Clerks run elections; the secretary of state oversees them.

And she dismissed election deniers, who have questioned recent election results and practices, particularly the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

“I may be Republican,” she said, “but I think the election was fair and right.”

Lynn Bartels was a reporter for 35 years, including working for e Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News. She served as the spokeswoman for Secretary of State Wayne Williams, and now occasionally handles communications for the Colorado County Clerks Association.