"I understand the need to not have the auditor do everything . . . but there may be some other position we could upgrade" to be responsible for elections, said Commissioner Jerry Grover.

An office specialist who reports directly to Clerk-Auditor Kim Jackson runs elections in Utah's second-most populous county. But commissioners want either to create a new position or upgrade the existing one to bring more accountability.

Commissioners do not want a repeat of November's ballot blunder in which 33,000 votes were overlooked in the initial Election Day tally because of a computer programming glitch.

However, they do not want to act without deciding how to fill the position, what responsibilities to assign whoever is selected, and how to staff the elections office.

The current proposal is for an elections coordinator who also would supervise the issuance of marriage licenses and passports. The coordinator would report directly to the clerk-audi- tor.

Kristen Swensen, who is leaving at month's end to help run elections in Salt Lake County, has been handling Utah County's election chores. However, she never received the title, staff or pay commensurate with that responsibility.

Commissioner Gary Herbert wonders if an official elections coordinator will make any difference in preventing future ballot miscues.

"Will this somehow eliminate what was essentially a computer glitch?" he asked.

Well, Grover shot back, "one of the requirements, the skills, is that they be able to count. Maybe that will improve the performance."

Utah County Personnel Director Lana Jensen said a coordinator would provide an additional level of oversight.

Before the commission revisits the issue Jan. 4, Grover would like to see more supervisory elements included in the elections coordinator's job description, among other things.

meddington@sltrib.com

Assessor-treasurer plan shelved

In other action, objections raised by Utah County's Republican Party and Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, prompted commissioners to shelve a proposal to consolidate the positions of county assessor and treasurer.

Commissioners Jerry Grover and Steve White had wanted to see better coordination between the offices and greater efficiency - particularly with the treasurer's office. But Bramble, who is drafting a bill to prevent consolidation, warned against the measure.

"The first line of defense against misappropriation and fraud is separation of duties," Bramble said. "What you're suggesting is having the same individual who has the responsibility of setting the value of properties, and has significant voice in the changing of those values, also be the person who receives those monies.

"That represents very serious concerns from a professional point of view," said Bramble, who works as a CPA.

Bramble's wife, Susan Bramble, who is Utah County GOP secretary, argued consolidation also would disenfranchise voters.

"When you take away an elected position, you take away one voice of the people," she said. Commissioners tabled the proposal until April to see what action the Legislature, which meets for 45 days beginning next month, might take.