Tina Harris seeks reelection - Reporter-Herald
Thomas Clayton
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Larimer County Clerk Tina Harris announces bid to retain seat
Citing a deep commitment to her work and serving the Larimer County community, Tina Harris has announced that she is seeking two more years as clerk and recorder.
Harris, a 24-year veteran of the office, was appointed to the post last May by the Board of County Commissioners, replacing Angela Myers, who was a few months into her second four-year term when she retired.
“I am absolutely passionate about it,” Harris said. “I have loved every part of being here in the clerk’s office, regardless of the position of the chair that I’ve sat in.”
Tina HarrisPer state law, Harris must win approval from county voters in order to complete the second half of Myers’ original term.
Harris joined the Clerk and Recorder’s office in 1999 as a vehicle licensing technician, and eventually worked her way up to assistant manager for all county licensing offices. Over the years, she has also worked in election counting operations and has led voting offices, among many other official duties.
Along the way, Harris has played a key role in several initiatives and programs that are still in use in Larimer County, she said, and she even was runner up for the county’s Innovation Award for her efforts to improve efficiency.
“When I started in 1999, the culture of the office was so different than it is now,” she said. “And I was part of that change.”
Harris said that her long and winding journey has added up to a depth of experience and familiarity with the job that will be key to ensuring that the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder’s office continues to operate at a high level beyond 2024.
“There’s a lot of value that I bring personally to this position, but experience is one of those qualities that is key to the success of this position,” Harris said.
As for her first few months on the job, Harris said that there were few unexpected surprises or challenges, and the local municipal elections went according to plan. She and her staff are now preparing for the 2024 election season which promises to be a busy one, with a presidential primary in March and the state primary in June.
Ensuring election integrity will be one of her team’s top priorities, she added, as well as ensuring that elections are conducted “based on the laws and rules that are in place now.”
“We continue to have robust judge training, which really helps that process,” Harris said. “I encourage people if they have questions about the integrity of the election, or if they see something that gives them pause… instead of viewing that as the end all be all truth, reach out to me.”
This is the first time Harris has sought elective office, a path she never dreamed she would end up pursuing when she started in the clerk and recorder’s office 24 years ago. She faces a challenge from Wyatt Schwendeman-Curtis, a Wellington resident and former candidate for mayor there.
Though part of her is nervous about the political aspects of the campaign, Harris said that she is confident that her performance on the job and her long experience will deliver the best results for Larimer County.
“That’s the greatest thing about the clerk and recorders office, is that we do everything without bias,” she said. “…So I’ve lived my life like that. I’ve never really been involved in positions like this. And so this is new to me, for sure. But the job itself is not.”
 | Tom Clayton Communication and Media Specialist, Public Affairs |
| Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St, Fort Collins, 80522 | 2nd Floor W: (970) 498-7005 tcla...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org |