Wyoming’s governor is investigating a complaint against the Weston County clerk in which eight qualified electors are asking for her to be removed from office, the governor’s office announced Friday.
Gov. Mark Gordon received a verified complaint Dec. 19 from the eight electors of Weston County alleging misconduct or malfeasance against Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock, Gordon’s statement says.
Wyoming law directs him to examine the complaint, investigate its allegations, then decide whether the claims justify removing the clerk from office, says the statement.
He’ll forward his decision to the complainants and the clerk once it’s finalized.
“Given the very serious nature of the potential consequences involved, removal of an official duly elected by the voters of Weston County, preserving the objectivity and integrity of this process is crucial,” reads Gordon’s statement. “Consequently, the governor will have no comment on this investigation while it is ongoing, focusing instead on reviewing and determining relevant facts.”
Miscount
The investigation follows a miscount in this year’s general election that showed Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, as receiving just 15% of the votes cast for him even though he was running unopposed. Nearly all of the other 85% of the ballots in his district were marked as not voting in the race.
A hand recount after the election showed that in fact, Neiman received 1,268 votes and only 166 people left the race blank.
Weston County Clerk Hadlock mistakenly mixed in ballots containing errors that were printed before the election with correct ballots on Election Day, authorities determined.
Hadlock took accountability for the mistake.
The mistake didn’t sway the race’s ultimate outcome, but raised questions around the county’s election integrity.
Hadlock told Cowboy State Daily that people shouldn't lose any trust in their elections over what happened in Weston County.
"They can trust the election, they can trust me, they can trust the machines," Hadlock said. "It was a huge oversight on my part."
Hadlock said she has no plans to resign over the mistake.
Neiman has since won House Republicans’ vote to become the next speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives.
‘Our Own Investigation’
Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who noticed the anomaly on election night and tried to reach Hadlock via phone and ultimately called the sheriff to find her, acknowledged Gordon’s announcement Friday with his own late-day statement.
“I appreciate the governor’s update. We’ve been conducting our own thorough investigation according to the processes laid out in (Wyoming election laws) Title 22, and will be releasing our results early in 2025,” says Gray’s statement. “We take the issues surrounding the conduct of the Weston County clerk very seriously.”
Hadlock could not immediately be reached late Friday.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
