Linsey Dale to run Registrar of Voters Office
EL CENTRO – The county’s public information officer will be taking over as its new registrar of voters/ elections manager.
Linsey Dale will start work in her new capacity on Friday, the county’s Intergovernmental Relations Director Rebecca Terrazas- Baxter confirmed in an email. Dale takes over for former Registrar of Voters/ Elections Manager Debra Porter, who retired in December.
The registrar of voters (ROV) plans, organizes and oversees all operations and activities of the department, including the registration of voters and conducting all primary, general and special elections in the county.
Dale joined the County Executive Office in 2018 as public information officer and recently served on the elections transition team overseeing the November 2020 general election. She formerly served as the executive director of Imperial County Farm Bureau.
The registrar of voters/ elections manager position was posted on the county’s website and was open for anyone to apply, Baxter- Terrazas confirmed.
“We received a handful of qualified, eligible applicants who were all interviewed by a small panel,” she said. “I cannot provide you with the names of the other candidates; however, during the selection process, Mrs. Dale was identified as the candidate whose qualifications and skills best met the needs of this particular role.”
“We are looking forward to working with Mrs. Dale in this new capacity and are confident that her communication and management skills will help to increase the quality and accessibility of the services the Elections Office currently provides to our community,” Chairman of the Board and District 3 Supervisor Michael W. Kelley said in a release.
In November, the supervisors provided direction to the county’s Human Resources Department regarding the qualifications of a new ROV. The key requirement they requested is that the new registrar be certified as a California Professional Election Administrator or a Certified Elections/ Voter Registration Administrator.
Baxter- Terrazas confirmed earning that certification is indeed one of the job requirements. Dale’s job description stipulates she will have 24 months after her start date to complete her certification. If for some reason it is not completed, the board has the option of granting a 12-month extension.
An Imperial Valley native, Dale earned her Bachelor of Arts in public administration from San Diego State University in 2005. She currently serves on the board of directors of the 45th District Agricultural Association and advisor to the Junior Fair Board.
“I know that Mrs. Dale will be bring her positive energy to a very complex and busy office,” said county Executive Officer Tony Rouhotas Jr. “Mrs. Dale has proven herself throughout our current pandemic to be a person that can maintain clear vision and direction while working under pressure. Her combination of talent and thinking outside of the box will transition well into this office setting and prepare us for more successes in the future.”
Dale expressed confidence in her new role. “From my time volunteering on local campaigns in my twenties to my recent work on the Elections Transition Team,” she said. “I feel that many roads have prepared me for this position. I am ready to lead the department to increased efficiencies and administering honest and transparent elections for the people of Imperial County.”