In a bid for re-election, first-term Clerk and Recorder Joan Lopez, a Democrat, is facing Republican Caroline Cornell, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for a state House seat in 2020.
Both candidates say the position, which includes running elections, should be based on trust from voters in the community.
“I’ve learned that when people don’t know how something works and aren’t getting answers, they become skeptical,” Cornell said in a candidate survey to the Sentinel. “When they hear partisan rhetoric on top of that, there is bound to be mistrust. Rebuilding public confidence starts with elected officials choosing to turn down partisan rhetoric and work toward common ground.”
Likewise, Lopez, who won the seat in 2018 from her former boss, Republican Matt Crane, said, “trust comes from understanding” and that the clerk “should make sure the public is informed on how the process works.”
There are approximately 411,000 active voters across the county, which includes the majority of Aurora and swathes of Littleton, Centennial, Greenwood Village and small towns to the east, including Byers, Peoria and Deer Trail.
Despite a wave of election conspiracy theories that started with the Trump campaign in 2020 and then trickled down to local elections across the country, including in Colorado, both candidates say they trust the outcomes of elections in Colorado.
“Colorado has the most secure, safest election processes in the country. Arapahoe County has hosted other states, assisting them in improving their elections back home. All while winning three national awards for access, security and refuting dis-information. I will have 100% confidence in the results,” Lopez said in a candidate survey.
Cornell said she’d like to see the legislature take some steps to address signature verification and ballot harvesting, which is when a third party gathers and submits completed ballots. In Colorado, a voter can authorize another individual to return their ballot. State law currently dictates that an individual can collect up to 10 ballots to return.
“Improvements to signature verification audits and regulating ballot harvesting activities are reasonable next steps for the legislature,” she said. “…Enhancing audit practices will help restore confidence in the process.”
The clerk and recorder is also responsible for other county services, such as vehicle registrations, marriage licenses and preserving public documents. The main office of the department is located in Littleton, but branches for motor vehicle services exist across the county. There are also nine motor vehicle registration renewal kiosks available to residents.
Cornell said she’d like to see more of those kiosks installed.
“Installing kiosks at additional grocery stores in underserved communities with extended business hours is a win-win,” she said. “Improving this service and increasing awareness of this option would help manage wait times as walk in services are reintroduced.”
Meet Joan Lopez
Joan Lopez
Joan Lopez was elected to Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder as a Democrat in 2018, after serving in the office in multiple positions for over two decades. She won the seat with 51% of the vote over her opponent, then-incumbent Matt Crane. She lives in Aurora with her husband and two children.
Joan Lopez Q&A
Trust comes from understanding. A Clerk and Recorder should make sure the public is informed on how the process works. I make sure voters are going to trusted sources for their information on voting and voting rights. In Arapahoe County we strive to educate the public in a world that is flooded with dis-information.
Elections are just a piece of what the clerk and recorder’s office does. How will you enhance other functions of the department?
We use technology to reach our customers, simplifying and speeding up the process. We have reduced average wait times from forty five minutes to fifteen minutes, increasing our Google reviews from 41percent to 85 percent satisfactory. In Recording we have digitized our records for the public all the way back to 1861 and made the records available online. We have put Arapahoe County ahead of the pack.
What one thing could make it easier for residents to vote?
We have already added drop boxes in underserved areas and expanded voter service polling centers to where they are needed. Access is always the primary way to increase voter participation.
What one thing could the clerk’s office or the state Legislature do to make getting and renewing driver licenses easier?
Drivers licenses are issued through the state with special, secured data connections that are expensive to have and maintain. Employee’s salaries, training and the special equipment required could be paid for by the state. More counties would participate if the costs were funded by the state.
What one thing could the clerk’s office or the state Legislature do to make getting and license plates and renewals easier?
Arapahoe County is fully staffed and fully trained, we also have 9 automated kiosks for renewals in King Soopers and other convenient spots throughout the county.
Do you trust the election process in Colorado? And will you accept the outcome of this election as announced?
Colorado has the most secure, safest election processes in the country. Arapahoe County has hosted other states, assisting them in improving their elections back home. All while winning 3 national awards for Access, security and refuting dis-information. I will have 100% confidence in the results.
Do you believe the 2020 Presidential Election was absent of widespread fraud and fairly won by Joe Biden
Absolutely, The election results were fair.
Get to know Joan Lopez
Buying 3 bushels of green chilli or going to the Taste of Colorado? You decide.
What is the last concert you attended?
The Zapp Band, Malo, Evelyn King, Tierra and Rose Royce at the Summer Jam concert at Fiddler’s Green.
What restaurant do you frequent most?
Copper Pot
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
My super power would be having the power of healing.
What was the last book you read?
The Truths We Hold By Kamala Harris
What is your least favorite household chore?
Cleaning the bathtub.
If you had to pick one television show to watch forever, what would it be?
Amazing Race
Did you have any New Year’s resolutions? What were they?
Change everything that didn’t work for me.
What were you most excited to do after pandemic restrictions eased?
Seeing my family.
What fun fact about you would most surprise people who know you?
I was a break dancer. Just call me “Sweet Jammer.”
Meet Caroline Cornell
Caroline Cornell
A small business owner in Arapahoe County, Caroline Cornell is now seeking the county clerk and recorder position, running as a Republican. She moved to Colorado in 1998 and raised two children with her husband here. While in college in her home state of Florida, she helped build a small family retail chain business and has since worked in both nonprofit and corporate settings. Caroline, who ran for the House District 37 seat in 2020, is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Colorado and has been active in Cherry Creek Schools parent organizations
Caroline Cornell Q&A
Balancing election security and voting accessibility is key. My promise is to check partisan politics at the door, while improving transparency in elections. I’ve learned that when people don’t know how something works and aren’t getting answers, they become skeptical. When they hear partisan rhetoric on top of that, there is bound to be mistrust. Rebuilding public confidence starts with elected officials choosing to turn down partisan rhetoric and work toward common ground. As a non-profit leader, I’ve led diverse teams to collaborate on hot button issues uniting members around shared goals. I’ll leverage these experiences in the clerk’s office to be, first and foremost, a fair, unbiased referee for Arapahoe’s elections.
Elections are just a piece of what the clerk and recorder’s office does. How will you enhance other functions of the department?
Arapahoe is an outlier in Colorado for not allowing walk-in DMV services. This is a major pain point for the community, especially for those who didn’t check the website or don’t have internet access. Arapahoe residents want all branches fully reopened, blending appointments with same-day walk-in options. As a responsive leader, I know to listen to clear messages from constituents. I’ve heard many who feel their access to services is blocked: residents turned away because they didn’t realize services are appointment-only; people who left something in the car and had to reschedule; or folks who wanted to visit the day they learned about a problem instead of waiting weeks for an appointment. Not all services can be handled on a kiosk. Bottom line is one-size-fits-all solutions are not fully meeting the needs of Arapahoe residents.
What one thing could make it easier for residents to vote?
As a civics geek with a poli-sci degree, I have long believed that everyone who CAN vote, SHOULD vote. Colorado’s systems are intended to make it easy to legally vote and difficult to cheat. We have some of the highest voter participation rates in the nation for this very reason. While Arapahoe would benefit from evaluating ballot drop box locations to maximize accessibility, so ALL residents have a convenient drop box nearby; the real issue is voter apathy. Far too many people don’t vote because they feel their vote won’t matter. Perhaps they are concerned about election security or feel like their vote doesn’t impact results. Being an informed voter means work – educating yourself about the candidates, following the news, reading the paper, and talking with friends – about a topic many shy away from, politics. Elections are important because they provide an opportunity for each person to have a say in policies that impact our lives. As Clerk, I plan to create a civic engagement program to boost understanding about why voting matters and how the elections process works while deemphasizing partisan issues that turn people off.
What one thing could the clerk’s office or the state Legislature do to make getting and renewing driver licenses easier?
I regularly hear, “Why can’t I go to the clerk’s office to renew my driver license anymore?” or “When I went to the Arapahoe DMV, I found out my appointment was for a different location.” Arapahoe County residents want better information about appointment locations, and truly miss having licensing services available at the Clerk’s office. While the first issue rests with the state DMV, we can improve services and communications at the county level. I will reassess implementing driver license services at the clerk’s office. This was popular in the past; and if we can bring it back without negatively impacting other services, we should make this available to the public. In addition, we should evaluate adding renewal services to kiosks to make things even easier for the public to renew their driver license.
What one thing could the clerk’s office or the state Legislature do to make getting and license plates and renewals easier?
In 2017 Arapahoe piloted the kiosk renewal system, now used across Colorado. It’s designed to help people access renewals easily and conveniently while prioritizing in person appointments for services that need staff support. Yet many parts of Centennial and Aurora do not have a kiosk within a reasonable distance, while other areas have two kiosks close together. Installing kiosks at additional grocery stores in underserved communities with extended business hours is a win-win! Improving this service and increasing awareness of this option would help manage wait times as walk in services are reintroduced.
Do you trust the election process in Colorado? And will you accept the outcome of this election as announced?
I believe in continuous improvement; elections are no exception. We want a system where it’s easy to legally vote, and darn near impossible to cheat. Improvements to signature verification audits and regulating ballot harvesting activities are reasonable next steps for the legislature. By signing your ballot envelope, you’re ensuring that the signature verification process functions as the identification backstop in Colorado’s system. Election procedures include testing and audits before, during and after each election to confirm equipment and processes are functioning correctly. Results are then certified by a bipartisan citizen audit board who reviews all ballot tabulations before confirming the outcome is accurate. Enhancing audit practices will help restore confidence in the process.
Do you believe the 2020 Presidential Election was absent of widespread fraud and fairly won by Joe Biden?
I was on the 2020 ballot in a state house race in Centennial. While the election didn’t go as I’d hoped, I accepted the results as fair. I felt no need to contest the outcome. I recognized Joe Biden as the President of the United States in 2020.
Get to know Caroline Cornell
Driving through the mountains in Northern Colorado on the way to a board meeting, I took a moment to admire the morning light shining on the walls of the canyon. The only thing that would have made it more beautiful would be autumn leaf color.
What is the last concert you attended?
Shhh don’t tell my son, who’s away at college….. I’ve got tickets for the Panic at the Disco concert in Denver this October. It’s my only night off this campaign season. Looking forward to live music again!
What restaurant do you frequent most?
We enjoy supporting local businesses and love eating out so it’s hard to choose just one. There are many we enjoy regularly – Parkway Grill, Casa Vallarta, Helga’s, Formosa Gardens and Athenia are all favorites. And we dearly miss Bent Noodle.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Time travel – Both of my parents have passed away, so I’d love to be able to visit with them; especially my dad who died when I was a teenager. To be able to introduce my dad to my husband and his grandchildren would mean so much.
What was the last book you read?
I enjoy historical fiction and recently asked a friend for a recommendation. She shared her favorite. With a master’s in history, I was hooked! It’s Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Turns out it’s a whole series and that has also been made into a TV series. It’s about intrigue, politics, fantasy, and has a romance story too. Definitely worth reading the book first.
What is your least favorite household chore?
Bathrooms for sure – My husband usually does the showers because he knows how much I hate doing them.
If you had to pick one television show to watch forever, what would it be?
Big Bang Theory is a perennial favorite at our house. The kids enjoy it for the science and nerdy references. While my husband and I enjoy the humor, witty language, and quirky characters.
Did you have any New Year’s resolutions? What were they?
I’m terrible about New Year’s resolutions! I’d love to say it’s personal recordkeeping, cleaning my house or losing 20 pounds, but this year I decided I should focus on wearing more accessories. Frivolous, yes! But fun to accomplish.
What were you most excited to do after pandemic restrictions eased?
Travel! We had canceled our first trip to Hawaii in 2020 three different times. We so enjoyed going in 2021 right as restrictions eased to celebrate our son graduating from high school and daughter from college. It was amazing for her visiting some of the volcanoes she had learned about in school.
What fun fact about you would most surprise people who know you?
I was a choir kid growing up. We proudly sang at state competition and received a first. My most memorable moment was an impromptu concert at the state capitol in Florida watching as all the staffers came out of their offices to listen to us sing. The acoustics there were amazing.