BREAKING: Washoe County Manager Recommends Registrar Take a Leave of Absence Due to ‘Recent Stress Issues’

With only 24 days until early voting and 41 days until election day, The Globe has scooped that Washoe County interim Registrar of Voters (ROV) Cari-Ann Burgess has been recommended by County Manager Eric Brown to take a leave of absence to address “self-identified personal stress.” The email to the board of commissioners was sent late yesterday.

In the email, Brown states:

Commissioners: Early this afternoon, I had a conversation with ROV Cari-Ann Burgess during which I recommended she request a leave of absence to address self- identified, recent stress issues. Later this afternoon, she convened the ROV office staff, and as a result, many left with the impression that I asked her to leave. This was not what was discussed, but it is emblematic of recent behavior we have seen from her. As a result, tomorrow morning, HR will meet with her to discuss taking leave. We will also meet with the ROV team to clear the air and answer questions.

I will be returning from ICMA in Pittsburgh tomorrow afternoon. Please feel free to text or call me directly if you would like to discuss further. Thanks.

Brown was appointed as Washoe County Manager in 2019 and assumed the duty to oversee the election department. Burgess was appointed as the interim ROV in January 2024 in a 3-2 vote after the abrupt resignation of interim ROV Jamie Rodriguez, who cited personal issues and needed family time as the reasons for her departure. Rodriguez served in the position for approximately two years after former Registrar Deanna Spikula resigned after 15 years after an extended leave of absence due to alleged harassment and threats from the public. Despite Spikula’s claims, the Secretary of State found no credible evidence of her allegations in their investigation.

Despite the lack of evidence, the 2023 legislature unanimously passed SB406 which made threats and force against election workers a felony. The bill was ceremoniously signed by Republican Governor Joe Lombardo with Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar present.

Under Eric Brown’s managerial direction, Washoe County has now burned through three registrars in four years.

This is a developing story.

Editors note: the original article mistakenly reported that Burgess was appointed as interim registrar in January 2023. The post has been updated with the correction. Burgess was first appointed as Deputy Director in 2023.