DENVER (KDVR) — Election officials from all around Colorado reacted to the sentencing of former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, who was sentenced to nine years behind bars on Thursday for tampering in the 2020 presidential election.
County clerks breathed a sigh of relief, saying the punishment fits the crime.
“Tina is not representative of the dedicated election officials in Colorado and throughout the country,” said Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said she is thankful the judge made sure to send a message to current and future election officials that these actions will not be tolerated.
“There is little that is more dangerous in the long run to our communities than individuals who are attempting to dismantle and undermine our democracy,” said Gonzalez.
Matt Crane with the Colorado County Clerks Association agreed.
“Her crimes are very serious, and I think the penalties show that they warrant that,” said Crane.
Crane testified in the case, saying he was more than willing to take the stand to restore voter confidence in the voting process.
“She had these fanciful ideas that weren’t true, and it has seriously undermined voter confidence,” said Crane.
Peters was found guilty in August for allowing a man to misuse a security card to access to the Mesa County election system and for being deceptive about that person’s identity.
The man was affiliated with My Pillow chief executive Mike Lindell, a prominent promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from former President Donald Trump. The discredited claims trace back to Trump himself, whose supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol because of them and who still hints at the false claims in his third run for president.
At trial, prosecutors said Peters, a Republican, was seeking fame and became “fixated” on voting problems after becoming involved with those who had questioned the accuracy of the presidential election results.
Before being sentenced, Peters insisted that everything she did to try to unroot what she believed was fraud was for the greater good.
When Peters pressed on with claims no legal authority has corroborated about “wireless devices” and fraud software in voting machines, however, she drew District Judge Matthew Barrett’s exasperation. Ballot recounts showed no discrepancies, he pointed out.
“I am convinced you would do it all over again if you could. You’re as defiant as any defendant this court has ever seen,” Barrett told her in handing down the sentence. “You are no hero. You abused your position and you’re a charlatan.”
Both Gonzalez and Crane hope this ruling reestablishes some faith from the public in the state’s systems.
“We have some of the best laws in the entire country and I think this just illustrates how well they work,” said Gonzalez.
The two added that election workers everywhere are working hard to make sure your vote is secure.
“Vote with confidence in so far as your ballot will be cast and counted exactly as how you marked it,” said Crane.
Crane also strongly encourages voters with questions to contact their county clerk offices for more information.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
