AMARILLO, Texas (BNN)-- Melynn Huntley has actually served as the Potter County Elections Administrator since 2013, and next week, she will be retiring after nearly a decade. She said the office is in great shape.
" I'm very thrilled about the work we have done here. I think elections remain in fantastic shape here and I know that Christy Benge who is actioning in as the elections administrator, she has worked here for 10 years, she is going to do an excellent task and the requirements of quality that we have held our selves too is going to be there," said Huntley.
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Huntley's last day in the office will be May 18 and her official last day is June 1. Benge, the current deputy elections administrator, will be sworn in as the brand-new Potter County Elections Administrator on June 2.
The Potter County Elections Administrator is selected by the Election Commission, which is made up of Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner, Potter County Clerk Julie Smith, Potter County Tax Assessor-Collector Sherri Aylor, Potter County Republican Party Chairman Dan Rogers, and Potter County Democratic Party Chair David Martinez. It takes a majority vote to make that consultation.
Huntley stated a number of things result in her wishing to retire.
" My hubby's retired and we have things we want to do and we have things we want to carry out in retirement and we want to do them in retirement and we need to get the program on the road. The other factor, I would simply be remised not to openly confess, elections are demanding. They are hard, they are hard work, there difficult and I reached a point where I'm all set not to be doing this," said Huntley.
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She included that in the almost 10 years that she has actually been the Potter County Elections Administrator, elections have changed.
It was a simpler election to facilitate. In 2016, there were reports of the Russians hacking election systems, Russians hacking a lot of things and so 2016 is when a world reality came about and social media became and has become another part of elections. People began at that point to truly lose confidence in elections," said Huntley.
Huntley included as she leaves the office, she wants people to believe in elections.
" We want at the end of the day, even if the person who was chosen was not their personal choice, we desire them to trust the system which's what I desire for this office and that's what I desire for
Amarillo, Potter County, and the state, and the nation," said Huntley.
She stated the job of an elections administrator and elections office is uncomplicated
" It's if an individual is qualified to vote, they have the ability to vote, they get to vote the way they pick and we count their vote. Count as in arranging their vote, just as precisely as the citizen meant. That's all we do," stated Huntley.
Huntley said her stepping down will not impact the June 24 runoff election.
" It's going to work simply fine. It's going to work like it normally does. We have currently started laying the groundwork and getting the notifications, notices, reports, and orders. Whatever that needs to be prepared. That has actually already been done. We are currently started dealing with the shows and screening of the devices. We are working ahead for this," said Huntley.
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Huntley added the timing of her stepping down was important to both the next elections administrator and voters.
" One of the thinking… … for the timing of this, is specifically for this is, when I made the decision to retire I had no concept who would be hired therefore you want whoever stepping into, I needed to make the presumption that it might be somebody that did not have the experience that Christy has and so I would have been doing a disservice to this city, refraining from doing it about this time since this person requires to have some elections under their belt prior to we round the corner to next March when we would have the next governmental primaries, to delay and not provide anyone adequate time to get up to speed would be wrong…… so having a runoff, a relatively easy election on our end that's the best very first election to have," stated Huntley.
She included though she might be retiring, she is not decreasing.
" I intend to trek more routes and find more places to paint and I intend to do more volunteer work here [...] I believe you will be seeing me in your area with some artwork… … I'm not going to go set in my lounge chair, I have other things to do," stated Huntley.
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Huntley stated she is going to miss out on individuals and staff she dealt with over the past years.
"This is a job that you dislike at times, but ultimately you learn there are numerous things you like about it. The things I enjoy about it the most were the people I got to deal with which is what I'm going to miss out on absolutely the most. And I will inform you, what my preferred day of work ever is and its election night after we've sent in the reports, everybody else has actually most likely gone to bed and as a family or as a group, my staff and I walk out of this building into a quiet night knowing we've done a terrific task," stated Huntley.
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Amarillo news and regional updates, talk to MyHighPlains.com and tune in to KAMR Local 4 News at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 p.m. and Fox 14 News at 9:00 p.m. CST.
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