Schwab names new Sedgwick County elections commissioner

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Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab on Friday named the administrative manager from the Sedgwick County clerk’s office as Sedgwick County’s new elections commissioner.

Schwab announced that he had named Angela Caudillo to the position, replacing Tabitha Lehman who was not reappointed when her term expired this month.

“Ms. Caudillo has an established relationship with Sedgwick County government and comes to the office with a strong background in local government operations and administrative management,” Schwab said in a statement.

Angela Caudillo

Caudillo also worked as the  operations manager for COMCARE of Sedgwick County, which provides mental health and substance abuse services.

She worked as the office manager for the county clerk’s office from 2015 to 2018 and as its executive services officer from 2013 to 2015.

She also served as an administrative specialist for the county from 2009 to 2013.

Caudillo earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies with an emphasis in ethnic studies from Wichita State University and an associate degree in general studies from Butler County Community College.

“Ms. Caudillo is a forward thinker with a proven ability to get things done,” Schwab said.

“Her background in performance management, policy and procedure development, and experience in cultivating strategic relationships will provide Sedgwick County with continued safe and secure elections.”

A committee of representatives from Sedgwick County government and the secretary of state’s office interviewed several candidates and forwarded their recommendations to Schwab.

Schwab appointed Caudillo after interviewing the finalists and reviewing their qualifications.

Earlier this year, Lehman revealed on social media that Schwab didn’t plan to reappoint her to the position when her term expired in July.

Lehman said Schwab was not reappointing her because she violated a policy that barred remote access to the statewide voter registration database, including through the county-provided virtual private network.

After the policy was announced, Lehman was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma and started undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Lehman said her physician advised her not to go to the office, and she requested exceptions to the policy because of her health risk and the approaching presidential election

Schwab’s office issued a statement shortly after the announcement, saying the secretary met with her Jan. 5 to notify her of the decision not to reappoint her to the position.

At the time, Lehman agreed with the course of action and admitted to ignoring statewide security protocols for accessing the Kansas voter registration database from home, the office said in a news release.

Under state law, the secretary of state appoints election commissioners in Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte counties.

Caudillo is the third election commissioner Schwab has appointed since taking office.

He named Fred Sherman to run the office in Johnson County and Michael Abbott to oversee the Wyandotte County elections office.