Paulina Gutierrez confirmed as Milwaukee Election Commission executive director

Milwaukee Common Council formally approved Paulina Gutie?rrez to lead the city's Election Commission Tuesday, putting new leadership in place as Milwaukee heads into the Nov. 5 election all but certain to come with intense scrutiny of the city's vote-counting operation.

Gutie?rrez's confirmation to head the city Election Commission is the final step after Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced May 6 that he was appointing Gutie?rrez to replace former Executive Director Claire Woodall.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, has continued to falsely claim that Milwaukee voters cast "illegal votes" in 2020. That year, Trump lost Wisconsin to President Joe Biden by about 21,000 votes after the state had elected Trump by a similar margin just four years earlier.

Recounts paid for by the Trump campaign in Milwaukee and Dane counties confirmed the results.

Gutie?rrez's announcement came after Johnson decided not to reappoint Woodall, who was confirmed as executive director in July 2020. The mayor's office has not said why Woodall was replaced, but Johnson has denied she was fired.

Woodall and the city reached a separation agreement in which Woodall will remain in an advisory position through early August but will not communicate with anyone at the commission other than Gutie?rrez.

In a May 3 letter, Jonatan Zu?iga, an employee at the Election Commission, wrote to the mayor that he had "deep concerns" about Gutie?rrez's appointment, saying he saw her "struggle with basic procedures" and working under pressure.

However, Zu?iga said Tuesday that in the month since the letter was sent, he has had several meetings, both as a staff and individually, and he said that he now supports Gutie?rrez fully.

Mayor's Office spokesman Jeff Fleming and Common Council President Jose Pérez expressed support for Gutie?rrez after her appointment and said they did not share the concerns in the letter.

"Without questioning the motivations or the ambitions of the letter’s author, the Mayor vehemently disagrees with the statements made in the correspondence," Fleming said in an email. "Paulina Gutiérrez is highly qualified and experienced in elections. She has already improved processes and is well prepared for the special election, the primary election, and the general election coming up over the coming months."

Gutie?rrez's first task will be the July 30 election and July 2 primary for the 4th Senate District seat vacated by former state Sen. Lena Taylor. Taylor resigned to become a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge.

Gutiérrez was appointed deputy director of the Election Commission in early 2023 and had previously worked for the state Department of Corrections as a legislative advisor and the city in various roles.

Last week, at the Judiciary and Legislation Committee where Gutiérrez gained its recommendation, she said she would hit the ground running and hopes to name a deputy director soon.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Paulina Gutierrez confirmed as Milwaukee Election Commission leader