Article author:
Associated Press
Bob Christie
Phoenix (AP) — County Recorders and Returning Officers elected in Yavapai County, Arizona have been threatening and fraud for over a year and a half. Fierce criticism from supporters of former President Donald Trump accepting his lie that he lost the 2020 elections because of.
County Recorder Leslie Hoffman said on Friday she was fed up with her "trouble" and she accepted her job outside the county. Her last day is July 25th. She said her longtime election director Lin Constabile was leaving for the same reason, and Friday is her last day.
"Many of the things we've dealt with are annoying," Hoffman said. "I'm a Republican recorder, living in a Republican county, and the candidate they wanted to win won 2-1 in this county, but I'm still saddened. My staff too. That's right. "
" I don't know what they think we're wrong, "she said. "And they are very annoying. Accusations and intimidation are annoying."
Constabile is busy doing the pre-election "logic and accuracy test" needed for the next primary on Friday, commenting. Was not obtained.
The experience of Hoffman and Constabile is not unique, as election experts across the country have been threatened and harassed since Trump's defeat. How her life was when former Georgia election workers mistakenly accused her and her mother of pulling fraudulent ballots from Georgia suitcases last week by Trump and her allies. He testified to the Parliamentary Commission about the confusion.
Ken Mattta, who had worked for the Secretary of State's Office in Arizona for nearly 20 years, resigned from his post on May 6 as Chief of Election Security. Most left because he was fed up with the threats and harassment he and other electorate workers received.
Arizona's 15 county recorders are responsible for voter registration and ensure that ballots are properly sent to more than 80% of voters who vote by mail. They earn only $ 63,800 a year, and salaries set by the legislature haven't risen ten years after Hoffman took office.
A county election board member is appointed to conduct the actual elections and oversee how to count ballots. Constabile has been a Returning Officer for 18 years and will have another job
Hoffman said the county sheriff's office was threatened after the 2020 elections. Judging that additional protection was needed, she said she started regularly patrols her home, something never seen before.
The Supervisory Board meeting is full of critics who hold a sign and make a swoosh from behind when Hoffman or Constabile is set to give a presentation.
"Whenever there is something in the agenda, people come and protest it," Hoffman said. "They don't like the vendors we use. I don't like the programs they want to introduce. I'm very sad."
Hoffman is a longtime resident of Yavapai County and she He once said he turned "his noise" at her from behind the room.
"And I saw them," What do you know, I've been in this county since 1961. This county is more concerned about it than I am. There is no one, "she said. "And it's" shut up, look back and head to the board. She ensures that her "great staff" will run this year's elections and the county supervisor will appoint a qualified successor. He said he was confident.
"They will be very enthusiastic about studying who they will consider appointing," she said.
The August 2nd Primary Ballot will be mailed next week.
