Denver Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O’Malley has named Michael Scarpello as Denver’s Director of Elections and Helen Gonzales as the Deputy Director of the Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

Scarpello has served as the Elections Manager for the Douglas County, Nebraska Election Commission (Omaha) since June of 2004.  Scarpello received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1995 and is a licensed attorney in the State of Nebraska.  He earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1991.  Prior to his hiring as Elections Manager, Scarpello served as Douglas County, Nebraska’s Chief Deputy Election Commissioner for four and a half years.

According to Marie Gregoire, Nebraska State Project Manager for Nebraska’s statewide voter registration system, “I have known Mike to take on problems in the Omaha elections office and treat them methodically as challenges to be overcome, implementing change and producing solutions.”

With the assistance of Denver’s Career Service Authority the Clerk and Recorder’s Office conducted a national search for an Elections Director.  Efforts were made to reach potential candidates through publications and professional associations involved with elections administration.  In response to the search, 10 candidates were selected to be interviewed. The original pool of candidates included seven candidates from the greater Denver metropolitan area and three from outside of the state. 
 
The first round of interviews was held on Monday, July 9, 2007.  The candidates initially interviewed with the Clerk and Recorder.  They then interviewed with two additional groups of individuals.  The first group consisted of members of city government.  The third group consisted of representatives from a variety of local interest groups who have consistently demonstrated their interest in election related matters.  The third group also included representatives from each of the major political parties.  Each group designed questions to pose to each prospective candidate.
 
A second round of interviews was held on Tuesday July 24, 2007.  Five remaining candidates participated in a “debate” style interview before the entire interview panel.

Each member of the interview panel posed questions to the candidates.  Candidate responses were considered by the entire interview panel.  After the interview process was completed, members of the interview panel discussed the merits of each of the candidates and provided feedback to the Clerk and Recorder and their preferences for selection.  After giving due consideration to each of the candidates, to comments from members of the interview panel and to Denver’s need for leadership in the Elections Division, on July 30, 2007, Ms. O’Malley made decision to appoint Mr. Scarpello as the Elections Director.     

Deputy Director of the Clerk and Recorder’s Office Gonzales has lived in Denver since 1972, having moved here from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to attend court reporter school.  She was hired by the City and County of Denver as a court reporter in October, 1974.    During her tenure with the City, Gonzales has worked solely for the Department of Excise and Licenses.  She has served in several capacities including Director of the Department under the Webb and Hickenlooper Administrations.  Her experience in this capacity included managing the Department’s operations. In 1995, Gonzales received her Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado.   

In her current capacity, Gonzales  supervises two major divisions in the Department, Administration/Hearings and Inspections.  Her responsibilities include formulating agency policies and procedures with respect to personnel, business licensing, and hearings. Gonzales supervises and coordinates fiscal operations, including budget preparation and revenue projections.  She also serves as liaison with other departments, agencies and City Council, including representing the agency in meetings and conferences involving public and private groups.   

O’Malley states, “Helen is as hardworking, dedicated, and loyal as they come.  She knows Denver city government and internal administrative processes like the back of her hand.  She is equipped with skills and experience necessary to immediately assist with making fundamental changes and improvements in the office of the Clerk and Recorder.”