RENO, Nev. — The supervisor of a key county in northern Nevada is on medical depart, a departure introduced simply days earlier than the election.
Washoe County has attracted consideration in latest weeks after turnover on the prime of the native elections workplace. Now, with the departure of Manager Eric Brown, each elections and county authorities operations shall be overseen by deputies throughout what is predicted to be a really shut election on this politically vital county.
The county confirmed Tuesday that Brown is on depart for a scheduled medical process and shall be out till the top of November. Deputy County Executive Dave Solaro will step in till Brown returns.
County officers try to quell any issues that transferring employees might have an effect on operations in Nevada’s second-most populous county. County spokeswoman Bethany Drysdale stated Solaro served as interim supervisor for a number of months earlier than Brown was employed in 2019 and has been with the county for greater than 20 years.
“(Solaro) joins the remainder of the county workforce in wishing supervisor Brown effectively and appears ahead to taking over the duties at hand throughout the quick time frame,” he stated in an e-mail to ‘Associated Press.
Last month, the county introduced that Chancellor Cari-Ann Burgess requested medical leave to take care of stress. But Burgess stated it was forced to leave after refusing to conform to personnel adjustments requested by Brown’s workplace. He stated he had requested a number of instances to remain, together with offering medical certification testifying to his well being, and had employed a lawyer.
Overseeing the workplace now’s Burgess’ deputy, the fifth particular person in 4 years to run the county’s election operations. The turnover is a symptom of a rustic that’s extremely politically divided and has been affected by it Election conspiracy theories for the reason that days of Republican Donald Trump lost the state to Democrat Joe Biden within the 2020 presidential election.
The county stated it’s “centered on conducting common and honest elections.”
George Guthrie, a spokesman for the voter registrar’s workplace, stated in an interview Tuesday earlier than Brown’s medical depart was disclosed that that workplace’s staff seemed to be in good spirits whereas working exhausting.
“The election interval is the fitting time for us. This is our Superbowl. The primaries are the playoffs,” Guthrie stated. “Our staff are cooped up, working lengthy hours, 12-hour days and weekends.”
