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An Arizona county that refused to certify the 2022 election has hired a new election official who repeatedly spread false claims of widespread election fraud.

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 Tuesday to hire Bob Bartelsmeier, who was selected by Republican Recorder David Stevens to serve as La Paz County's elections administrator for the past year. It was decided by a vote. Republican Supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd voted yes, and Democrat Ann English voted no.

Election officials across the state are resigning due in part to harassment related to election misinformation. But Republican regulators are not concerned that Bartelsmeier repeatedly shared baseless posts on Facebook claiming the 2020 election was rigged against Donald Trump. said. As Votebeat first reported on Monday.

Six county residents who spoke at Tuesday's meeting said they opposed his hiring. Nearly all said they were concerned about Bartelsmeier's Facebook post because they want election officials to increase confidence in county elections, not make matters worse. Two of them specifically said they were concerned about the post, which was first reported by Votebeat on Monday.

“Think about it: You have denigrated the integrity of hundreds if not thousands of election officials across the country who were assuring voters that their votes were being counted correctly, and yet our Election officials will be responsible for protecting the integrity of elections in Cochise County,” said Jeff Sturges. , lives in Sierra Vista.

Stevens selected Bartelsmeyer. The supervisor gave Stevens more control. About the county election in February. In Arizona, state law typically separates election duties between election officials, who oversee Election Day and vote counting, and recorders, who oversee early voting.

former county elections director; Lisa Mara resigns at the last minute It claimed she was defamed and harassed when she refused to go ahead with her supervisor's plans. illegally counting all ballots by hand It will be cast in the November election. A judge had to force supervisors to certify the county's election. There were concerns about the security of vote tabulation machines..

Mr. Bartelsmeyer has decades of election administration experience. Before Bartelsmeier was hired a year ago in La Paz, a rural county in western Arizona, he ran for office or worked in elections in Mohave County and counties in Missouri, Florida and New Mexico. He said he was doing a lot of things.

Asked to speak at Tuesday's meeting, Bartelsmeier highlighted his experience as a rebuttal to several residents who said they believed he didn't have enough experience for the job.

“I have over 30 years of experience,” he said. “Can you tell me who has more experience?” I don't think you can find out. ”

Stevens said two other people applied, but neither had experience as an election official.

When asked if Cochise County could contact his most recent employer in La Paz County regarding Mr. Bartelsmeyer's job search, Doña Ana County, New Mexico. Bartelsmeier, of Palm Beach County, Florida, said no. Britons and several residents pointed this out at the meeting.

“Was there any red flags that this person didn't want you to contact your former employer?” English said.

Stevens said there were no red flags because he also exercised that option in his job search. “I had no idea anything was wrong,” he said.

Bartelsmeier did not address this during his speech, other than to tell supervisors they should ask La Paz County about the length of their stay. “I think you will understand that I have been the most transparent election administrator, including the county administrator who supervised me, all three supervisory officers, the county attorney, and even the secretary of the board of supervisors. It has also been highly rated.”

He emphasized that he did not hold the position of elections director from 2016 to 2021, which includes the period when he posted political opinions about the 2020 election on his Facebook page. ing. However, a look at his page shows that he has been posting his own political opinions since then, and since being hired by La Paz County.

He said he wants transparency and integrity in elections.

“I want to make things right,” he said. “If I see something wrong, I will spell it out. I want every election to be honest and fair.”

Jen Fifield is a Votebeat reporter based in Arizona. Please contact Jen at jfifield@votebeat.org.