Jack Twite, a Douglas County elections o cial, honored by state

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e statewide association of elections o cials honored a Douglas County elections employee known for deftly handling a sometimes contentious political climate, the association announced in early July.

As the county’s deputy of elections, Jack Twite “is dedicated to ensuring that our citizens understand, trust, and participate in the democratic process,” wrote his boss, Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Sheri Davis.

Davis’ comments came in a letter to nominate Twite for the Colorado County Clerks Association’s Excellence in Election Service award, according to a news release.

“What makes Jack truly unique is the way in which he balances his critical duties with positivity and an unwavering sense of humor,” Davis said, according to the release. “Who else would wear an in atable cowboy-riding-a-chicken-suit to help get his team excited about being ‘back in the saddle’ for each election cycle?” ose who have served as Colorado county clerks — on both sides of the aisle — have pushed back against claims of fraud.

Although Twite has hung on to his humor, elections o cials around Colorado have endured tense times in recent years. Some have faced hostility, even violent threats, a trend that continued in Colorado two years after the 2020 election, when former President Donald Trump and his supporters alleged widespread voter fraud.

Several county clerks in Colorado have received death threats since 2020, according to Matt Crane, director of the association and a Republican former Arapahoe County clerk.

When tensions ran high, Davis said in the release, Twite reminded those around him that most folks want the same thing: “To understand and trust the system, know that their vote counts, and the democratic process is secure.”

“His dedication to his work comes in many forms,” Davis said, “from spending an extra hour at church or the store to answer questions or address concerns, to taking the time to personally provide tours for citizens who visit our elections o ce seeking more information about the process.” e award honors Michele Burton, who began her elections career in 1976 with the Colorado Secretary of State’s O ce and ended it as an Arapahoe County elections deputy. She and her husband Wayne died in a car accident in 2000 as they were traveling to Utah to watch their 14-year-old son play in a soc-

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cer tournament, according to the release. e Grandview High student was not in the car, which collided with a deer.

ose who knew her said Burton’s commitment to service in the elections division was surpassed only by her devotion to her family, according to the release.

“Michele’s legacy lives on because of her passion to serve, commitment to elections integrity and excellence, and dedication to her colleagues and our citizens,” Davis said. “Jack embodies these same values in a way that would make Michele very proud.” e conference, which concluded June 29, featured national election gures who saw attacks from Trump and others after the 2020 presidential election.

Twite was one of four election sta ers statewide nominated for the award. e association honored them at its summer conference in Durango in June. e award went to Gar eld County Clerk sta er Edna Place. Besides Twite, the other nalists were Kim Wright with Montrose County, and Jonathan Arebalos with Ouray County.

Gabe Sterling, a Republican in the Georgia Secretary of State’s o ce, oversaw two hand recounts of the election, which con rmed Joe Biden won the state. He talked about death threats — which some Colorado elected o cials could relate to.

Besides elections, clerks handle a variety of duties, including recording wedding licenses and handling motor vehicle transactions. Other workshops at the association’s conference dealt with those issues. Attendees heard from the Colorado State Patrol, the state Department of Revenue and the federal Election Assistance Commission.

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