The Invisible Work That Makes Elections Possible

Dana Lewis

Recorder and Officer in Charge of Elections

Pinal County, AZ

“The Invisible Work That Makes Elections Possible"

Most of us think about elections only when it is time to vote.

We see the candidates. We see the campaigns. We see the headlines about who won and who lost.

What we rarely see is the extraordinary amount of work required to make the process itself function.

This week’s episode of Community Catalysts takes listeners inside that unseen world.

My guest is Dana Lewis, Recorder and Officer in Charge of Elections for Pinal County. Her office is responsible for the systems that allow citizens to register, receive ballots, cast votes, and ultimately trust that the results are accurate.

It is detailed work. It is technical work. And in today’s environment, it is work carried out under intense scrutiny.

Dana speaks with remarkable candor about the responsibilities that come with that role. She describes what it means to run elections when mistakes are not merely inconvenient but deeply consequential, and when the people doing the work know that the integrity of the entire system depends on the discipline of their processes and the commitment of their team.

Her perspective was forged in a moment of crisis. During the 2022 election cycle, Pinal County experienced serious ballot and supply errors that forced the county to respond in real time. What followed was not defensiveness, but a determination to strengthen the system—expanding transparency, improving procedures, and building safeguards designed to prevent a single point of failure.

Listening to Dana, I was reminded how easy it is to take civic systems for granted.

Elections do not simply happen. They are designed, maintained, and protected by people who believe deeply in the responsibility they carry.

If you care about local leadership—or about the institutions that make self-government possible—this conversation offers a rare and inspiring look behind the curtain.

I think you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for the quiet professionals who keep the process working.

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A St. Patrick’s Day Reflection: Thin Places in Public Leadership

On this St. Patrick’s Day, I'm honored to share a piece of wisdom rooted in Irish tradition, as told by my longtime friend and emeritus business partner, John Little.

He speaks of the Celtic idea of a “thin place”—a location where the distance between heaven and earth feels unusually close, a place where something deeper becomes easier to sense or experience.

John observes that something similar can occur in civic life.

Most of the work of local government is practical and procedural. Agendas must be followed. Budgets balanced. Policies debated. It is serious work, but it can sometimes feel mechanical.

And then, every once in a while, something shifts.

A conversation deepens. Someone speaks with unexpected honesty. People who arrived expecting conflict begin listening differently. The room grows quieter, more thoughtful. For a moment, the work becomes clearer and more purposeful.

These are thin places in public leadership—moments when the distance between the routine work of governance and the deeper purpose of service becomes very small.

Leaders cannot schedule those moments. But they can surely invite them.

Slow the conversation. Ask a better question. Listen for understanding rather than advantage. Remind the room of the community everyone serves together.

When leaders do that, something powerful can happen.

For a moment, the mechanics of governance reconnect with their deeper purpose: the shared responsibility of making our communities better.

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An Invitation to Share Your Leadership Story

Community Catalysts is built on the belief that some of the most valuable leadership insights are earned quietly, through real service in real communities.

If you serve in a civic leadership role—and you’d be open to sharing hard-won lessons from your own experience—I invite you to consider being a guest on a future episode.

You can learn more and volunteer by completing a brief guest questionnaire at:www.CatalystGuest.us 

Every submission is reviewed personally. Your story may help another leader see their own work more clearly, or feel less alone in the responsibilities they carry.

Thank you for the work you do—and for considering this invitation.