San Mateo County assessor candidate is criticized by opponent and two employees

San Mateo County’s next chief elections officer and assessor-county clerk-recorder race is intensifying as Election Day nears. County Supervisor David Canepa challenges Jim Irizarry, the current assistant chief elections officer and assessor-county clerk-recorder. Mark Church, first elected in 2010, is not seeking reelection. Canepa says he is running to address chaos and a lack of professionalism in the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department. Irizarry says voters can choose a proven professional and argues for continuing secure elections and adapting to new technologies. Irizarry has more than 13 years in the department, managed 35 elections, closed 13 assessment rolls, and helped implement vote-by-mail, including the county’s first all-mail election in 2015. The campaign has become contentious, with concerns raised about workplace morale and a lawsuit filed by an ACRE management analyst.

"“This race is not on experience,” Canepa said in an interview. “This race is about leadership.” Canepa said he is running to address what he sees as “chaos” and a lack of professionalism in the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department, or ACRE, while Irizarry wants to use his experience to continue building upon the department's work to hold secure elections and adapt to new technologies."

"Irizarry said in an interview that voters “have a choice between a proven professional like myself who has actually been at the line running these programs, versus an unqualified politician, really, that has absolutely zero skill sets to run this department.” Irizarry has been the assistant elections officer and assistant assessor-recorder for more than 13 years, and has managed 35 elections, closed 13 assessment rolls, and led initiatives to integrate technology and digitization in the department."

"“The reason I'm running is because I want to continue the good work that we have done in the department,” he said. He helped implement the vote-by-mail system at ACRE and in 2015 the county became the first in the state to hold an all-mail election. The race has become contentious as Canepa and an employee from the office raised concerns over workplace morale under Church and Irizarry."

"“It's a dumpster fire,” Canepa said. “It's a very bad place to work.” Alicia Garcia, a management analyst at ACRE, filed a lawsuit against the county, Church, and Irizarry last ye"

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