Candidate Questionnaire: Gallatin Country Clerk & Recorder

Eric Semerad

(D) — County Clerk and Recorder

Marla Davis

(R) — County Clerk and Recorder

Does Gallatin County adequately protect the transparency and integrity of elections? If not, what steps would you take as clerk and recorder to remedy that issue? If so, what action would you take to further improve election security?

*Content in candidates’ answers may be false or misleading. Always consult online resources and fact-check statements. The following resources provide information on election security: https://www.eac.gov/voters/election-security, https://www.cisa.gov/rumorcontrol, https://www.dhs.gov/topics/election-security.

Semerad: Gallatin County does adequately protect the transparency and integrity of elections by employing a mix of election judges and workers from both parties and full accurate public testing of election equipment used to tabulate votes. Election security is supported by dedicated IT security staff, employee security awareness training, physical security, near real-time endpoint detection response and physical separation of election system components from the county network and the internet. I will be adding to election transparency by livestreaming election day vote counting and processing procedures.

Davis: I believe there are multiple concerns regarding the transparency and integrity of our elections in Gallatin County. The Election Office/Clerk and Recorder’s Office reportedly accepted and used $295,681 in CTCL (Zuckerberg) in our 2020 election cycle. Montana ranked #4 in the nation per capita at $2.26 and Gallatin County ranked #12 in Montana at $2.49. We know that at least part of that money was used for a mobile election office. However, according to Montana law/statutes, mobile election offices are only to be used on tribal land, none of which exist in Gallatin County. According to a Judicial Watch report (and others), Montana had 5 counties whose voter registration rates exceeded 100% of the eligible voting-age citizens: Gallatin County was at 103%. Gallatin County incorporates the use of ES&S voting machines. Although officials state they are safe, unfortunately they are one of the voting machine companies that have come under scrutiny for security the last several years.

I believe that Election Integrity and Security should be a non-partisan issue. We ALL should desire to have and maintain free, fair, and transparent elections. Outside money and influence should not be “granted” and run through the Election Administrator’s office. Our voter rolls need to be cleaned up and verifiable. I recommend a precinct level hand count of paper ballots, with a simultaneous hand audit. The process should be live streamed and recorded. Parties should be equally represented with election judges, poll watchers and volunteers who have adequate viewing capability. Then, if you choose to run the ballots through the machines for an extra count, do so. If France can accomplish this by midnight on election day, we should be able to as well. It will take a lot of volunteers, but citizens should be engaged in the process!

What would be your very first priority if elected to office?

Semerad: The Clerk & Recorder’s Recording Department has a highly experienced staff that provides amazing customer service recognized among the finest in the state. However, the office will be losing 75 years of knowledge in the next year due to retirements. Preserving that knowledge with new staff is paramount in delivering services with recording laws, the Platting Act, petitions, minutes preparation, document preservation and vital records. My first priority will be hiring and training employees for this office to continue to provide excellent service to the public.

Davis: After addressing the election concerns, my goal is to provide excellent citizen and customer service through the Clerk and Recorder’s office. I will work hard to ensure that employees have the opportunity to obtain further training and education, have access to proper equipment, and continually improve IT support and systems to provide ease of operation and a friendly user experience.

Why should MSU students, faculty, and staff vote for you?

Semerad: I bring 32 years of experience with the myriad of responsibilities of the Gallatin County, Clerk and Recorder/Surveyor/Election Administrator. It has been my pleasure to give nearly my entire adult life in public service to the people of Gallatin County after graduating from Montana State University in 1987. The students, faculty and staff of MSU benefit from my leadership in the Clerk and Recorder’s Office with land records, county business processes, elections and ensuring eligible Montana citizens right to vote is protected.

Davis: I love Montana, the values we represent, and the quality of life we are so fortunate to experience. I hope to promote those ideals in my service. As a Physical Therapist and Director of Rehab, I must use good organizational, multi-tasking and people skills to accomplish the patient and employer goals and objectives. I am well versed in expectations of governmental paperwork requirements and deadlines. These skills will translate well to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office. No one will work harder on behalf of the citizens of Gallatin County. Thank You!