An Arizona county that refused to prove the 2022 election hired new election officials who repeatedly spread false claims about widespread election fraud.

On Tuesday, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors appointed Bob Bartelsmeyer, who has served as La Paz County elections director for the past year after being nominated by Republican Recorder David Stevens, as county elections manager. voted 2 to 1 to hire him as a Republican Overseers Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd voted in favor, while Democrat Anne English voted against.

Statewide election officials are resigning in part because of harassment related to election misinformation. But Republican regulators have indicated they are not concerned that Bartelsmeyer has repeatedly shared unsubstantiated posts on Facebook that his 2020 election was rigged against Donald Trump. rice field. As Votebeat first reported on Monday.

Half a dozen county residents who spoke at a meeting Tuesday said they opposed his hiring. Almost all of them said they were concerned about Mr Bartelsmeyer’s Facebook posts. Because we want the elections commission to have more confidence in the county’s elections, and we don’t want to make things worse. Two of them specifically said on Monday that his concerns arose from a post first reported by Votebeat.

“Think about it. Those responsible are responsible for maintaining the integrity of Cochise County’s elections,” said Jeff Sturges, Sierra Vista resident.

Stevens is The supervisor gave Stevens more control About the February county elections. In Arizona, state law generally separates election duties between election officials, who oversee election day and ballot counting, and registries, who oversee early voting.

Former election administrator of the county, Lisa Mara resigned last minute She claimed to have been defamed and harassed when she refused to go ahead with her supervisor’s plans. Illegally count all ballots by hand He will run in the general election in November. Judges had to compel supervisors to certify county elections. Concerned about the security of the voting machine.

Bartelsmeyer has decades of election administration experience. Before being hired a year ago in La Paz, a rural county in western Arizona, Bartelsmeyer said he ran for office and worked in Mojave County and counties in Missouri, Florida and New Mexico. Told.

Bartelsmeyer, who was asked to speak at Tuesday’s conference, highlighted his experience as a counterpoint to several residents who said they didn’t believe he was experienced enough to do the job.

“I have over 30 years of experience,” he said. “Could you tell me which one is more experienced? I don’t think I can find one.”

Stevens said two other people had applied for the job, but neither had experience as an election commissioner.

When asked if Cochise County could contact his recent employer in La Paz County about Bartelsmeyer’s job search. Doña Ana County, New Mexico. In Palm Beach County, Florida, Bartelsmeyer said no. English and multiple residents pointed this out at the meeting.

“Didn’t this person send red flags that you didn’t want to contact your former employer?” English said.

Stevens said he didn’t warn him because he also exercised that option in his job application.

Bartelsmeyer did not comment on the matter other than instructing his supervisor to ask La Paz county about the length of stay. “I am the most transparent election administrator and have been highly praised by the county administrator who supervised me, all three of his commissioners of supervisors, the county attorney, and the clerk of the commission. Please understand that you are

He emphasized that he was not in the position of election administrator from 2016 to 2021, including when he posted his political views on the 2020 election on his personal Facebook page. However, his page indicates that he has been posting political opinions ever since, and since being hired by La Paz County.

He said he wanted transparency and honesty in the election.

“I want to make things right,” he said. “If I find anything wrong, I will spell it out for you. I want to be honest and fair in every election.”

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