Forsythe prevails over Harris in Larimer clerk and recorder race

Tina Harris, the current Larimer County clerk and recorder who has worked for the county for more than a quarter century, has conceded the race to Ken Forsythe, a retired economist in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Forsythe currently holds 51.27% of the votes to Harris' 48.73%, as of results posted on the evening of Nov. 5.

There are around 2,000 ballots left to count, based on figures reported by the Secretary of State's Office, but not enough votes for Harris, who is 4,787 votes behind, to catch up.

Forsythe said Harris called him to acknowledge the result and said she is willing to work with him.

"My focus now is on ensuring a professional and orderly transition that maintains continuity of services for the residents of Larimer County," Harris told the Coloradoan in an emailed response.

The county clerk and recorder oversees many key administrative functions of the county, like recording deeds, licensing vehicles, issuing marriage licenses and administering elections.

Forsythe will be the first Democrat to hold the office for at least 60 years.

Forsythe, who has a doctorate in economics, said his job with the USDA gave him experience as a supervisor and was similar to the clerk's office.

"I worked to ensure systems operated efficiently, transparently and free from the interference of political agendas," he said.

"I'm serious about doing this job," he told the Coloradoan after being elected. "I know that Tina Harris was well liked in the position, and I'm dedicated to being serious about the job and making sure everything runs smoothly in transition and thereafter."

During his campaign, Forsythe promised to eliminate the practice of placing the clerk and recorder's name on mailed ballots when he is a candidate, saying Colorado law permits that practice but it can influence the outcome due to name recognition.

For example, a candidate can't go into a polling location with their name on their shirt, he said, but clerks are allowed to have their name on the ballots.

He also said he would break the cycle of Larimer County clerks stepping down from office before their term is done and putting forward their deputies as their temporary replacement before an election can occur, giving those deputies an advantage in the election.

He said he would also bring new perspective to the office, which has been held by Republicans for several decades.

Harris has worked for the county for around 27 years, starting out as a vehicle licensing technician and advancing through leadership roles.

She was appointed to the office of clerk and recorder by Larimer County commissioners in 2023, after former clerk and fellow Republican Angela Myers retired. Then she was elected in 2024 for the remainder of Myers' term.

Harris, in an emailed response to the Coloradoan, said she is disappointed about the outcome but respects the decision of the voters.

"After nearly 27 years of serving Larimer County, this office and the people we serve mean a great deal to me," she said. "Public service has been my career, not politics, and I have always approached this work with a deep sense of responsibility, integrity, and commitment to our community."

During her campaign, Harris cited her deep understanding of the office and said her priorities would be to continue delivering accessible and efficient services, fiscal responsibility, election security and transparency, and continued modernization of the clerk's office.

"I am especially proud of the exceptional employees of the Clerk & Recorder's Office. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving the residents of Larimer County deserve recognition," she said. "The accomplishments of this office have never been mine alone, and I will always be grateful to have worked alongside such an outstanding team."

"It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve this community, and that is something I will always carry with me," Harris said.

Forsythe said he ran because he felt it wasn't acceptable to not have a Democrat running for the office when election offices have faced undue pressure from the national level in recent elections.

When asked if he felt Harris would be susceptible to giving in to those pressures, he offered up an anecdote from a candidate forum with the League of Women Voters of Larimer County ahead of the election.

When asked what the candidates would do if U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement showed up at the office, Harris said she would first find out why they were there and call local law enforcement. Forsythe said the first thing he'd do is to ask to see their judicial warrant before letting them into the office.

It's important for the clerk's office to be very active in speaking up about anything happening that would be potentially undue election interference on the voters, he said.

As Larimer County's electorate has moved left politically, fewer offices are held by Republicans, even those that many consider to be administrative rather than political.

A different blue wave in 2018 saw Democrats John Kefalas and Bob Overbeck fill Republican-held offices for county commissioner and assessor, respectively. In 2020, Democrat Gordon McLaughlin succeeded a Republican district attorney, and in 2022 Stephen Hanks filled the coroner office previously held by a Republican.

Irene Josey, Larimer County's Republican treasurer and public trustee, is term limited and leaving office at the end of this term. Democrat Joann Ginal was elected to the office on Nov. 3.

The only remaining Republicans in office at the county level are Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen and Tom Donnelly, Larimer County surveyor. Both were reelected on Nov. 3 and ran unopposed.

Previous Larimer County clerks

• 2023-current: Tina Harris, Republican

• 2013 to 2023:Angela Myers, Republican

• 2003 to 2013:Scott Doyle, Republican

• 1986 to 2003:Myrna Rodenberger, Republican

• 1963 to 1983:Jim Thompson, Republican

Source: Coloradoan archives

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Forsythe prevails over Harris in Larimer clerk and recorder race