1-on-1 with Milwaukee's new election chief
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee's newly appointed election chief is defending her qualifications ahead of a crucial election year.
Paulina Gutiérrez, the executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, spoke to CBS 58 about her new role and how she's preparing for her first major tasks which includes administering four elections in the next five months.
About six weeks into the job, Gutiérrez said she's feeling confident about leading the state's largest city after Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced he'd be appointing her to replace Claire Woodall on May 6.
"I'm feeling really good," Gutiérrez said. "Elections are not just run but by one person. We have a small but mighty team of eleven. I have a deputy now too."
The presidential primary in August will be Gutiérrez's first federal election to administer, but first she'll oversee a special election for Milwaukee's 4th Senate District. The seat is currently vacant after Lena Taylor left the Senate to become a Milwaukee County Judge.
The primary for the special election will be held July 2 and July 30 to fill out the remainder of Taylor's term.
Overseeing elections in a state that's often decided by a 1 percentage point often comes with scrutiny during pivotal election years. Milwaukee can be the scapegoat too for its late-night tallies and combating misinformation is also part of the job.
When asked about that, Gutiérrez defended her qualifications and expressed confidence in her ability to lead.
"I think my resume speaks for itself," said Gutiérrez. "In terms of 17 years of public service to my community, and again I'm not so new. I've been here for a year and half in charge of central count and surrounded by many professionals who have worked multiple presidential elections."
Despite facing some from GOP lawmakers and city staff, Gutiérrez was unanimously appointed by the Milwaukee Common Council last week.
Former President Donald Trump continues to tell supporters the 2020 election was "stolen" from him without providing any proof of widespread voter fraud. He also frequently criticizes Milwaukee for posting results the day after the election, which was largely due to an unprecedented number of absentee ballots submitted by voters four years ago.
During a rally in Racine, Trump again falsely claimed he won Wisconsin and blamed the "radical left" for "rigging" the presidential election.
The election results have been upheld by a series of recounts, court rulings and reviews, including one conducted by a conservative law firm.
Gutiérrez acknowledged the challenges of the job, but reiterated she and her staff are prepared for what lies ahead.