Viral Video In Washoe County Leads to Dismissal of Election Certification Board Appointee Caught Stealing GOP Candidate’s Signs

A video taken over the weekend by a volunteer for Marsha Berkbigler’s GOP campaign for Washoe County commissioner revealed that a woman was removing her campaign signs from a public thoroughfare. Berkbigler is running against Democratic Chairwoman Alexis Hill.

The woman, later identified as Amy Powell, is also the “Deputy Director of Voter Protection” and an invitee to an event held by the Washoe County Democratic Party. Yet, the link to the event has been removed from social media and the Washoe Democratic Party’s website. Attempts to reach Chair Carissa Snedecker by phone were unsuccessful.

The video shows Ms. Powell in a Mercedes van with California license plates refusing to give the signs back to Berkbigler’s volunteer Cliff Nellis who recorded their interaction for eleven minutes until the police arrived. Ms. Powell contends that Mr. Nellis had placed the signs on county property and had abandoned the signs. Police found that Mr. Nellis did not violate the law and Ms. Powell returned the signs to Mr. Nellis. The police did not press charges as the signs were returned.

WATCH:

This morning, Mr. Nellis told The Globe that he went to the Washoe County Registrar’s office to inquire as to the role that Amy Powell held in the election process. Deputy Registrar Andy McDonald indicated that Ms. Powell served on an election certification board. However, when The Globe contacted the county to confirm, Communications Manager Bethany Drysdale said that Ms. Powell had been removed from her role from the certification board “out of an abundance of caution.”

When asked for further information about the board and the appointees, Drysdale replied:

There are 3 individuals. One from the City of Sparks, one from the City of Reno, and one from Washoe County.

NRS 293B.140: Appointment of accuracy certification board. Before conducting the test required pursuant to the provisions of NRS 293B.150, the county or city clerk shall appoint three persons, not more than two of whom are of the same political party, to serve as an accuracy certification board. Not more than two of the persons appointed to the board may be employees of the county or city. (Added to NRS by 1975, 1525; A 1987, 357; 1993, 2199)

NRS 293B.145: Observation of conduct of tests.

      1.  The accuracy certification board shall observe the conduct of the tests prescribed by NRS 293B.150 and 293B.165.

      2.  Representatives of the various political parties, candidates and the press may also observe the conduct of such tests. (Added to NRS by 1975, 1526)

We replaced Amy Powell with an employee from Washoe County.

Washoe County Commissioner Mike Clark told The Globe: “If Ms. Powell had anything to do with counting votes, verifying signatures, or anything to do with the election process ever, and has demonstrated this disguising behavior, I question her integrity. Since she was caught on tape stealing signs, the question is did she steal votes? Another question is, was this premeditated since she was driving a van with California plates? Why would she have a van with California plates on a mission like this? I expect the local democratic party to disavow her and I expect Chair Alexis Hill to disavow her and condemn her actions. If Ms. Powell was ever in a position of authority in the election process or in any capacity, she is not to be trusted working within the county or any county in Nevada. She is unworthy of our trust. I can confirm from my conversation with a reliable source at the district attorney’s office that Ms. Powell has been removed from this certification board. I am going to insist that the DA thoroughly investigate her. Just because she stole the signs and gave them back does not recuse her from an investigation. A bank robber is not absolved of charges if he walks out the door with the money, but hands the money over the police when he is caught. She was caught red-handed and an investigation is needed.”

The Globe has asked Drysdale additional questions to understand the appointment process, vetting process of the appointees, history of Ms. Powell’s work for the county, and her residency status. We will update the story with her response when received.