PRESS RELEASE
January 4th, 2021
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Janice Vos Caudill, Clerk and Recorder, Janice.Vos@PitkinCounty.com, 970-429-2710
Laura Armstrong, Communications Director, Laura.Armstrong@PitkinCounty.com, 970-309-7191
Janice Vos Caudill Announces Retirement from Pitkin County
Following 16 years as Clerk and Recorder
Pitkin County, CO- After 23 years in public service in the valley, Pitkin County Clerk and Recorder Janice K. Vos Caudill is announcing that she will retire on April 1st, 2022. Vos Caudill’s purpose and vision as Clerk was to strengthen organizational structures to support best practices, the use of technology, and appropriate legislation to serve the community, all while providing excellence in customer service.
Vos Caudill is proud of the energy, thoughtfulness, and care that all her staff in Elections, Motor Vehicle, and Recording exhibit each day to understand, comply, and explain the laws and utilize operating systems to best serve the community. Under Vos Caudill’s supervision, the Clerk and Recorder Office made services more accessible and efficient with system conversions and legislative changes. In 2007, and again in 2017, the Pitkin County Recording Department underwent changes to make all recorded and imaged documents from 1881 to the present available online. In 2018, the Motor Vehicle Registration and Titling Division underwent a statewide computer conversion to provide more online services. She was a member of the State of Colorado Voter Registration and Elections Management User Development Group and Steering Committee prior to the 2008 systems implementation, and Vos Caudill ensured smooth transition with the changes enacted during 2013 legislation that created how elections are conducted in Colorado, from precinct polling places to mail ballot elections with voter service centers.
“I'm not sure there is a harder working public servant in all of the Roaring Fork Valley than Janice Vos Caudill,” noted Kelly McNicholas Kury, Chair of the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). “If the ability to retire was determined by hours worked, Janice could have retired years ago! Janice has served our community humbly over her many decades as Clerk and Recorder. When she was appointed to replace the former Clerk sixteen years ago, she answered the call to serve and has worked tirelessly ever since. She made customer service and excellence the highest standard for the departments she has led, where all members of the community are welcomed with a smile and precision.”
As the chief election official, Vos Caudill understands that the Clerk and Recorder position is an administrative position, not a political one. She is proud to have worked the past decade with Colorado Clerks, the Secretary of State Office, and various interest groups to advance the Colorado election processes and garner the reputation of the gold standard State for how elections in the United State are run. Because of the involvement of community members, Vos Caudill also considers Pitkin County a gold standard county for Colorado county elections.
“The highest compliment I can pay a clerk,” states Judd Choate, Colorado Director of Elections, “and this pertains to Clerk Vos Caudill, is that the entire Secretary of State staff never has worried about Pitkin County Elections, never. It’s due to the leadership, knowledge, and talent of Janice. The Secretary of State Elections office has never seen a problem and I don’t know what Pitkin County will do without her.”
McNicholas Kury further noted that “Janice’s first task as Clerk in 2005 was to conduct a recall election a month after her start date. An intimidating and high profile task for anyone but one which Janice rose to the occasion as she always has done. She executed dozens of elections with the highest integrity and set the bar for Colorado and the country. Janice's friends and colleagues know her to be fun, kind, and always up for a good joke. She's a lover of our local trails and I congratulate her on the many good times, laughs, and miles of hiking that lie ahead!”
Vos Caudill has served on multiple task forces and committees, which include President of the Colorado County Clerks Association, as well as Vice President and Secretary, member of the Colorado Bi-Partisan Election Commission, Elections Risk-Limiting Audit Task Force, Chair of the CCCA Education Committees, Chair of CCCA Archives and Public Records Task Force, to name a few. During the Colorado State Legislative Session, Vos Caudill, along with Colorado County Clerks, annually reviews on average over 75 Bills that may affect the operations of the Clerk and Recorder departments. Clerks and staff review, assess, calculate impacts, operations and cost analysis to ensure essential input to legislators.
Matt Crane, Executive Director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, shares: “Janice has not only been a tremendous clerk for Pitkin County, she has been an amazing statewide leader advocating for policies that make our elections both more accessible and secure. Every clerk owes her a debt of gratitude for her tireless work to make Colorado a better place to vote. Janice will be dearly missed, but we also wish her all the best in her retirement!”
Vos Caudill reflects back that one of the biggest kicks of her career was when a high school student, helping as an election judge, described the Clerk and Recorder Office as “the happy place.” Asked what he meant, he explained: “when I turn sixteen, I register my car with you. When I turn eighteen, I register to vote with you. When I get married, I secure my marriage license with you. And, when I buy my house, I record it with you. These are all happy things. You’re the happy place.” Vos Caudill attests to the privilege of working with her staff, fellow Pitkin County employees, and the community does make it a happy place.
Jon Peacock, Pitkin County Manager, commented, “we are immensely grateful for Janice's sixteen years of service to the citizens of Pitkin County. Janice's tenure has epitomized great public service and her departure will leave huge shoes to fill. I know others will join me in thanking Janice for her tireless work to ensure excellent public service to those seeking a marriage license, recording a real estate transaction or registering a vehicle. Janice's leadership has made Pitkin County the gold standard in the conduct of all primary, general and county elections. Janice is a proud farmer's daughter and brought her prodigious work ethic to serve the citizens of Pitkin County. We congratulate Janice on her retirement and a well earned break!”
Vos Caudill has been the Clerk and Recorder for Pitkin County for over 16 years, coming from a career at the City of Aspen as Assistant to the City Manager and Business Analyst. She moved to the area from Wisconsin where she worked in Human Resources as the Coordinator of Staffing services for the largest technical college in the United States, servicing over 3,300 employees and four unions. Vos Caudill is Nationally Certified in Elections Registration and Administration and as a Professional in Human Resources Management, Process Management, Essential Facilitation and a Character Education Trainer. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado, Business and Marketing degrees, and an Associate’s degree in Administrative Assistance.
When asked what her plans are for the next step, she says, “It’s time to start writing the third chapter in life, which includes spending more time with my husband, family, and friends.”
As is stated in Pitkin County’s Home Rule Charter, any Clerk and Recorder elected official vacancy “shall be filled by appointment of an eligible person by majority vote of the Board of County Commissioners, and any person so appointed shall serve the remainder of his or her predecessor’s term.” On January 4th, Pitkin County staff will be making a recommendation to the BOCC for how to proceed with the application process. Subsequently, the Pitkin County Human Resources Department will work with the BOCC to recruit, interview, and appoint the next Pitkin County Clerk and Recorder. Whomever is appointed Clerk and Recorder will serve until January 10th, 2023, the remainder of Vos Caudill’s term. Anyone interested in the position, please contact Melissa Knight, Director of the Pitkin County Human Resources Department at 970-319-1452 or Melissa.Knight@PitkinCounty.com.
Pitkin County voters will vote on a new Clerk and Recorder in the November 2022 election. Pitkin County preserves the non-partisan nature of the election of county offices; local candidates petition onto the ballot and are not required, like all other Colorado counties, to gain ballot access through party caucus. Candidate packets will be posted to www.pitkincountyvotes.com in mid-January and petitions will be available on March 28, 2022. Any questions pertaining to the ballot access process, please contact Janice Vos Caudill at Janice.Vos@PitkinCounty.com or 970-429-2710.
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