Sherril Huff has been named the new director of the King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division.

Huff, who was twice elected as Kitsap County auditor, has served as King County's assistant director for the division since February 2005

County Executive Ron Sims announced her appointment last week.

The King County Elections Division has been at the center of controversies including timely mailing of absentee (now mail-in) ballots and vote counting since 2003.

It was the focus of statewide attention during recounts of ballots in the 2004 governor's race between winner Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, and Republican hopeful Dino Rossi.

The King County Council has taken steps to improve the ballot-tabulation process since the 2004 election.

"Sherril has had a strong hand in the improvements made and underway to accommodate changes in the elections process mandated at the federal, state and local levels," said Sims.

"Once she decided to put her hat in the ring, she clearly was the best candidate, in both experience and keeping continuity as we move to all mail balloting."

Huff served eight years as Kitsap County auditor and the past two and a half years as assistant director for King County Elections.

"She is a seasoned administrator with the right experience, management skills and political awareness for the job," Sims added.

"Over the past two years, Sherril has championed significant reforms and partnered with staff to propel King County Elections into a nationally respected office. King County will benefit greatly from her expertise and insight," Sims said.

"I've worked with Sherril since she and I were county auditors, I know she has been a driving force in turning the division around over the past two years," said Secretary of State Sam Reed.

"King County is in good hands for becoming the nation's largest county to process all-mail voting next year. She is exactly what the county needs to continue making strides in elections, recording and licensing."

As the assistant director of the division, Huff has led improvements and ensured consistent and steady reforms.

Using the 14 new positions the council approved for Elections in 2005, Huff has infused the division with private industry expertise to improve office culture and establish best practices.

Under her leadership, King County Elections received a national award for its mail ballot reconciliation efforts last August. King County was also the first county in Washington to allow election candidates to file for office online using banking industry encryption technology.

Huff oversaw hundreds of election reforms and began an outreach program last year to hire a new generation of tech-savvy poll workers to run new, federally required, voting equipment at the polls.

"I believe that continuity of leadership and my demonstrated commitment to building stability and high performance in [the division] speak for themselves," Huff said.

Critical projects still facing Elections include electronic records management transition, providing additional services to rural residents through Community Service Centers, transfer of Elections facilities to Renton, the transition to vote by mail in 2008, and continued compliance with the Help America Vote Act.

Jim Buck, the interim director of the REALS Division, will assist Huff in the immediate transition and will return to his position as the deputy director of the Department of Executive Services.

Huff will serve as the director designee until the county council confirms her.