Tensions ran high during a recent Washoe County Commission meeting as Vice Chair Jeanne Herman voiced her frustration over what she deemed a substantial alteration of her proposed election citizen advisory board plan. The proposal’s drastic transformation by county staff led Herman to label the revised version an “abomination,” resulting in Chair Alexis Hill’s decision to remove the agenda item.
The meeting started with Herman asserting that county staff had distorted the essence of her proposal. The initial plan intended to empower citizens to offer feedback on “election operations, systems and issues.”
However, the revised version, presented as agenda Item 15, shifted focus towards educating the public on current election procedures and encouraging dialogue for improvement. Another change was the removal of the advisory board’s permanency, in contrast to Herman’s original intent.
Notably, the advisory board’s formation was grounded in the findings of the Elections Group, a consulting entity commissioned for a $600,000 contract. Herman opposed the contract pushed for by Washoe County Manager Eric Brown.
The audit conducted by the Elections Group spanned 80 pages and identified issues in Washoe County’s election process, proposing recommendations such as hiring more personnel, bolstering training and communication efforts, and providing resources to enhance employee productivity.
Herman, an outspoken critic of the county’s election practices, expressed her concerns during the meeting, directing pointed accusations at county staff. She claimed that her efforts were hampered by unjust restrictions, suggesting deliberate efforts to obstruct her responsibilities as a commissioner.
Commissioner Mike Clark echoed Herman’s concerns and showed support for her cause. He highlighted the disconnect between the proposal Herman initially submitted and the version that made it onto the agenda, remarking the alterations made it where Herman herself no longer wanted it considered.
Herman concluded by metaphorically expressing her disdain for the revised agenda item, implying that it belongs in a place “where the sun doesn’t shine.”
The Old Blog in the Desert 