By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio/Blizzard Broadcasting.

 

Routt County Clerk and Recorder Jenny Thomas has been chosen as president-elect of the Colorado County Clerks Association. Thomas was voted in at the group’s winter conference in Pueblo.

“I’m very excited to serve as president-elect this year for the Colorado County Clerks Association. It’s a humbling experience. I know I have a lot to learn but I have a lot I can teach as well and I’m very much looking forward to the next couple years.”

Thomas will serve as president-elect through next January when she will be sworn in as president of the Colorado County Clerks Association.

 

Press Release; Jan. 27, 2026, by Lynn Bartels.

Jackson County Clerk Hayle Johnson, the outgoing president of the Colorado County Clerks Association, honored her colleagues last week at the group’s winter conference in Pueblo.

“Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your resilience,” Johnson said. “And thank you for believing, even now, in the power of democracy, truth and one another.”

County clerks have endured some rough years as they deal with false charges of stolen elections.

Routt County Clerk Jenny Thomas, who used to serve as the association vice president, will serve as president elect for the next year. Like so many clerks who attended the conference, she gave it rave reviews.

“This conference gave me some great ideas to implement in Routt County in all departments,” Thomas said. “It was a great opportunity to connect with the clerks face to face.” 

 

The Colorado native confessed to never visiting Pueblo until the conference and she’s ready to go back. “There’s so much I still want to see in that area of the state,” she said.

 

Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder Candace Rivera welcomed conference goers, touting the city’s rich cultural heritage, its famous green chile and its riverwalk. She also selected the black-tie theme of the banquet on the final evening, Jan. 21, which included a red carpet, music, and the swearing in of new officers.

In addition to elections, most clerks also handle other operations, including motor vehicle registrations and recording documents, such as property records and marriage licenses. Many said they were grateful for the seminars at the conference teaching them about updates in those arenas.

Weld County Clerk Carly Koppes will serve as the association’s president for the next year. She and Johnson wrote separate speeches but shared similar sentiments. 

“Strength in difficult times doesn’t mean having endless energy or unshakable confidence. Endurance is not about never feeling tired. It’s about knowing who you can lean on when you are,” Koppes said.

“As we move forward – through uncertainty, complexity and change – I hope we remember this: We are not meant to do this alone, collaboration is our advantage, support is our foundation, and endurance is something we build together, day by day.”

The association’s summer conference will be in Denver in August. 

—

Lynn Bartels formerly worked as a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post, and handled communications for Secretary of State Wayne Williams.