Celeste Landry

Celeste Landry earned a bachelor’s degree in math from Stanford University and a master’s degree in operations research from George Washington University. Her career experience includes working as a manufacturing production scheduler. She has also worked as a teacher in Boston, China, outside New York City, Bahrain, and Boulder. Landry has served as a volunteer lobbyist and has been affiliated with the League of Women Voters, particularly Boulder County’s Voting Methods Team and Colorado’s Alternative Voting Methods Task Force.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am passionate about political participation, accurate communication, and the details – because the details often end up mattering! I especially advocate for the people who don’t have the time, energy or knowledge to advocate for themselves. I’m fair and have integrity.

I have lived in Colorado and voted in every election since 1994. I have fought for the right to vote, better representation, and election integrity as a volunteer lobbyist at the state Capitol, at the Title Board, and at Secretary of State rulemaking hearings. I am a nationally recognized expert on better voting methods and a fierce advocate for governments allowing and encouraging every eligible voter to participate in elections.

Please see the Priorities page of my website for specific documented examples of my record on the issues and the Meet page for more about my personal history.

In addition to addressing the national election issues that all candidates will talk about, I want to focus on election issues right here in Colorado.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

1.

The Right to Vote – I am the only candidate fighting against efforts to take away your right to vote. I’ve challenged the Attorney General’s interpretation of Amendment 76 for almost-18-year-old citizens in primary elections and testified against the unconstitutional vacancy “elections” in House Bills 25-1315 and 1319 which, for the first time in our nation’s history, disenfranchise voters based on political party affiliation.2.

Better Representation – I am the strongest candidate when it comes to advocating for voting methods which allow voters to better express their opinions and to provide constituents with better representation, including proportional representation. I introduced Rep. Joe Neguse to the U.S. Fair Representation Act, which he has since co-sponsored every session. I want Colorado’s Secretary of State to fulfill the office’s statutory obligations to provide rules and guidelines for cities that want to adopt proportional ranked voting.3.

Election Integrity – I have a record of balancing access to voting with election integrity. I lobbied successfully to limit electronic ballot return to only those people who truly need it. In the case of Senate Bill 21-188, this meant limiting electronic ballot return to people with a print disability. Electronic ballots are vulnerable to hacking and are not private.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Administering elections with fairness and integrity, adopting better voting methods to empower voters, ensuring election results truly reflect the will of the voters, conducting efficient operations, being transparent and accountable, making data-driven decisions, and reducing unnecessary, burdensome, and self-defeating regulations.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The Colorado Secretary of State is the head of the Department of State which works with the state’s 64 county clerks who actually conduct elections. The entire state government begins with electing the executive and legislative officials and calls for voters to participate in direct democracy through ballot measures and in retention elections for judges. The Department of State also oversees business licenses which are important legal documents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like my main legacy to be empowering voters – through protecting the constitutional right to vote, through making electoral changes that result in a better reflection of the will of the people, and by ensuring every voter’s ballot is counted in the way the voter intended.

The Elections Division within the Secretary of State’s office writes rules and guidelines for better voting methods, from proportional ranked voting which has a somewhat complex tabulation method to single-winner Approval Voting and the internationally popular proportional Open Party List system, both of which are much simpler and very transparent. Proportional voting methods also eliminate the effect of gerrymandering.

I would also like to build collaborative relationships to support the Department of State’s goal of providing the highest level of public service. The most visible relationship is between the Secretary of State’s office and the county clerks, but the Secretary of State should also consult its Business and Licensing Division and its Information Technology Division to encourage ideas for improved customer service. As part of a team effort to serve all Coloradans, I would also welcome feedback on my own administration.

While advocating for Colorado voters and business entrepreneurs, I would encourage long-term thinking, and I would model non-partisan behavior.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

From 2nd grade on, I grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. From age 11 to 14, I delivered The Daily Advertiser newspaper on my bicycle in the afternoons during the week and mornings on the weekend. Each month I collected the subscription payments in person so I knew all my customers (about 100), listened to their needs and provided good service. I was the first girl to be named Carrier of the Year; the newspaper carried a front-page photo of the award ceremony and presented me with a gold watch.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

The right to vote is fundamental to our identity as American citizens. Elections must be conducted fairly and securely. The Secretary of State should lead the way in encouraging all eligible citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote. The Secretary of State can also work to ensure voters can cast meaningful ballots that truly reflect the will of the electorate.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

In addition to its Election Division, the Department of State has a Business and Licensing Division which handles a wide range of filings from business and nonprofit registrations to notary public applications to bingo and raffle reports. Two other divisions, Administration and Information Technology, support the work of the Department of State.

The Electronic Recording Technology Board meets regularly to discuss best practices for electronic filing. The ERTB also provides grants to counties to implement technological advancements in electronic recording.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. As someone who has communicated regularly with the Colorado Department of State, I have experience navigating the Secretary of State’s rulemaking hearings, the Title Board hearings (which are chaired by a designee of the Secretary of State) and the legislative process where I have lobbied successfully for changes to election bills. Understanding the fiscal note attached to bills is important in today’s fiscally constrained environment. I also have years of experience filing campaign finance reports.