Adams County Clerk and Recorder Stan Martin is up for re-election, up against Thornton City Councilor Josh Zygielbaum.
The Clerk and Recorder facilitates elections in Adams County, working with the Secretary of State to tally votes and provide election records to government and the public. The clerk also provides millions of public records and oversees a driver license wing.
Martin, a Republican, touts his record of timely and accurate election counts, and keeping the Russians out of Adams County vote-tallying systems.
Zygielbaum, the Democratic challenger, said he aims make voting easier and build a more robust website so residents don’t have to go to the clerk’s office if they don’t want to.
Martin is running “to continue providing the great services that we’ve been working on for the last four years for Adams County citizens,” he said.
He said his accomplishments in office include slashing wait times at DMV offices by 85 percent, while saving taxpayer $1.8 million over three years.
Martin is also proud of many Adams County election practices he worked to establish, like an impenetrable vote-counting software that isn’t even linked to the internet, and an all-paper ballot election system that he said is the most accurate way to run elections.
STAN MARTIN
Stan Martin is a third-generation Adams County resident. He attended Colorado State University. He has ten years of corporate management experience, 14 years experience as a small business owner, and 27 years of management and leadership experience. He is a certified election administrator.
JOSH ZYGIELBAUM
Josh Zygielbaum served in the Marine Corps. He holds a Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado. Zygielbaum has experience in banking, international finance, leadership and nonprofits. He was elected to Thornton city council in 2015.
Martin said his office, like other clerk offices around the state, were required to run five recounts of elections to check accuracy, and Adams County counted those five races completely perfect.
“We were very proud of that,” he said.
He said Adams County conducted its 2016 election for about a million dollars less than previous general elections.
Martin also engages in outreach with voters young and old via social media and programs in high schools.
Martin is president-elect of the Colorado County Clerks Association and will be president if re-elected.
Zygielbaum said he apply experience in finance, leadership and government to the clerk office.
“I’m running for office because every person and business in our community matters,” he said. “I see the Clerk & Recorder’s office as a pivotal part of county operations and the daily lives of Adams County residents.”
He said he has spent his three years as a Thornton city councilman making government more transparent, safe, and business-positive.
Zygielbaum’s priorities on elections are improving citizens’ voting experience and increasing turnout. He said voters may not vote because of transportation, mobility and other factors.
“I’m already working with state legislators to change the law that keeps the county or state from covering postage costs on returned ballots. I’m also looking at drop box and voter office locations to make voting more convenient.
His approach to the office is community-centric, he said while criticizing Martin’s tenure as clerk.
Candidate Questions for Stan Martin
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU
- What food do you hate most?
Unfortunately, pistachio nuts hate me! Darn little nuts sent me to the hospital
2. Do you indulge in recreational marijuana?
No! I oversee the accuracy and security of Adams County Elections, you want my head clear as the Colorado air 🙂
3. Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Kevin Costner
4. What Olympic sport do you wish you could win gold in?
Sorry, I can’t pick just one: Golf, Speed Skating, and Bobsled
5. What was your favorite childhood candy?
Pop Rocks and Fun Dip
6. If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be?
Sitting in the Situation Room in the White House during the US Navy raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound.
7. If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be?
“Persy”- short for persevere. Life is full of challenges, you must keep hammering away.
8. If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts.
PLEASE don’t ever ask me to sing!
9. What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone?
“That was AWESOME, see you soon”
10. Is a hot dog a sandwich?
No, no, no- its a dog thing
11. What is the last concert you attended?
Tim and Faith
12. What movie do you never tire of watching?
Happy Gilmore and Christmas Vacation
13. Dogs or cats?
Dogs. Oh great, now my cat is upset!
14. What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado?
CSU Ram, so I’d have to say Boulder 🙂
Candidate Questions for Josh Zygielbaum
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU
- What food do you hate most?
Beets, definitely beets. I’ll try anything once and enjoy new flavors and foods from around the world. I enjoy spice and heat….just no beets please.
2. Do you indulge in recreational marijuana?
No, I do not use marijuana but I do support the right of someone to do so safely, should they choose to do so. I do enjoy a local, craft beer from time to time, though.
3. Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Most likely Chris Pratt but I’d certainly be open to Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, or that one guy from Spiderman.
4. What Olympic sport do you wish you could win gold in?
Wrestling
5. What was your favorite childhood candy?
Sour Patch Kids
6. If you could be an eyewitness to one event in history, what would it be?
Hard to narrow it down! I’d like to observe the discussions leading up to the creation of the Constitution.
7. If the Secret Service gave you a code name, what would it be?
That’s classified.
8. If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you sing? Car karaoke counts.
Journey, “Don’t Stop Believing”
9. What epitaph would you like written on your tombstone?
Just Kidding
10. Is a hot dog a sandwich?
No, it’s a hot dog…two separate food groups entirely.
11. What is the last concert you attended?
Journey, Night Ranger, and Foreigner
12. What movie do you never tire of watching?
The Robin Hood Cartoon Movie…it was my childhood favorite and my kids watch it regularly now.
13. Dogs or cats?
Both! I presently have a one year old English Bulldog named Pippin.
14. What’s the most overrated thing about living in Colorado?
The thin air. I love being in the mountains but would be happier if it came with sea level air.