Monroe County is without an election supervisor following the departure of longtime employee Karen Wheeler.
Wheeler announced her resignation at the Monroe County Election Board’s Feb. 2 meeting, which was the night before her last day on the job.
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She reflected on the challenges of her more than eight-year tenure in a statement she read before the election board.
“Every election will have problems, but a successful election is one that the problem is identified, a plan is created, and then that plan is executed,” Wheeler said. “Every voter gets to vote. I have had eight successful elections.”
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Wheeler referenced several issues in recent elections — such as in last year’s November general election, when more than 6,600 ballots weren’t added to the election night total on time.
There were subsequently two recounts, the first Monroe County had in several years. Both recounts reflected the total of the initial count, Wheeler said.
“I don’t need to say it was more than difficult, but it ended with success,” Wheeler said in reflecting on the challenges.
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Wheeler worked in voter registration for more than a year, assisted in three elections and supervised eight elections. She said she hopes to continue working for the county.
It is not clear why Wheeler resigned or whether a replacement has already been selected. Nicole Browne, the election board secretary and Monroe County clerk, did not respond to a request for comment.
