The race for La Plata County clerk and recorder is in no way heated this year. Incumbent Tiffany Lee Parker is running unopposed.

Parker, a Republican, has held the position for four years and is honored to not have an opponent, she said.

She is an advocate for Colorado House Bill 13-1303, a Democrat-sponsored bill that requires the state to send mail-in ballots to all residents, not just absentee voters.

However, she feels that the law still needs to be refined to allow overseas residents and deployed military personnel to vote 100 percent electronically, she said. She will be working toward that goal during her next term. Overseas residents are still required to physically sign their ballots and send them to the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder.

Also, unlike in Pueblo, Boulder and Denver counties, Parker will not be issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples until there is full legal backing.

“I will do whatever the law tells me to do,” she said. “If and when we can begin issuing licenses, I want to make sure they are legal documents.”

Parker will be serving as president of the Colorado County Clerk Association where she plans to contribute to the state Legislature and build a positive relationship with the elected Secretary of State.

The County Clerk and Recorder’s Office provides a number of services which include: elections, motor vehicle licenses, online vehicle registration, marriage license information and civil-union license information.

Parker hopes this election will yield an 80 percent voter turnout – well above average – because the county has created various ways for people to vote. In the 2010 county election, the voter turnout was about 73 percent.

“There is no excuse why you shouldn’t vote,” she said.

vguthrie@durangoherald.com

Tiffany Lee Parker

Political affiliation: Republican

Occupation: La Plata County clerk and recorder

Residence: Durango

Family: Husband, Ty,; six children; two grandchildren

Favorite U.S. president: Ronald Reagan